Over the weekend I was challenged to determine how I worship. At the corps (church) I attend we gathered together the young adults, married and unmarried alike, to worship together and learn together. Our friend, John Kim came to teach us and share with us. He described to us an event after Lazarus was raised from the dead. In John 12 a dinner is being held in Jesus’ honor. During this time Martha, Mary and Lazarus worship Jesus. They worship him, but not in the assumed style of worship. Our friend John reminded us that life is an act of worship, how we live, how we conduct ourselves is, or should be acts of worship. But we go through seasons of worship. Mary took a jar of expensive perfume (that was worth a years wage – Judas reminds her) and poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. Her most cosmetic and valuable feature – her hair – she wiped on the dirtiest part of Jesus’ body. Her act of worship was extravagant. It wasn’t something she could do daily, who has that much extremely expensive perfume? But she was compelled to worship Christ in a way that only seemed fitting for how much she wanted to honor and praise him. Martha, often criticized for busy work is worshiping in a way that blesses others, she was worshiping through service. It’s probably safe to say that Martha’s spiritual gift is hospitality. She uses it to honor and serve others, it is her act of worship. Now we witness Lazarus’ subtle and loud act of worship. He’s there! He was dead and now he is alive! His presence is a testimony and an act of worship.  Sometime just showing up is all it takes.
Another point John drove home to us was how each of their acts of worship affected more than just themselves and Jesus. True worship affects others. Verse 3 tells us; “the house was filled with the fragrance.” Everyone experienced Mary’s act of worship with their senses. Verse 2 tells us, “A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him.” Many experienced Martha’s act of worship through her hospitality and cooking. It says in verse 9, it was says”When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead.” Lazarus being present and the worship of being there, many were blessed and started following Jesus!
What season of worship are you in? Are others being affected by your worship? 2 Corinthians 5: 14 – 17 reminds us that Christ’s love and his sacrifice should compel us to no longer live for yourself, but for Him and for others. 

^{Experience worship in a new way and remember it blesses those around you.}