Jesus said some things that seemed to contradict one another. He said, for example, that the road to heaven is narrow and there are only a few who find it. That to be His follower, we must take up our cross daily and follow Him. That definitely makes it sound hard, right? But then He says that anyone who is tired and carrying a heavy load should come to Him, because His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Which is it?
Like so much in the Bible (and in reality as a whole), the answer isn't either or, but both and. And that's true with the perfume metaphor, as well. Following Jesus can sometimes be very sweet, like perfume. And it can make the lives of those who do it seem filled with a wonderful aroma. But it can also be bitter. Sometimes, as Jesus told us, it means hating our family. He said He didn't come to bring peace, but a sword. But He's the Prince of Peace, right? How can it be both?
Well, as long as we're working outside of His will, working in the wrong direction, the gospel is going to seem hard. It's going to bring division. It's going to feel like a heavy load. But once we learn to walk WITH Him, and to want what He wants for us, the burden becomes light. He then DOES bring peace to our lives.
So let's learn to walk with Him. Apart from Him we can do nothing. But with Him, nothing is impossible.
God, thanks for teaching us the both/and.
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