Alabaster Box Worship
Writer Author Elizabeth Parker
Christian Article
:
Worship
- Fiction No
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise." Psalm 51:17
"If He hears that cracking tinkle when you break your alabaster box of personal treasures; if He notices the rustling sound as you bow to dismantle your own glory; you are going to stop Him in the middle of whatever He is doing because God can not pass by a broken and contrite heart. He is going to move Heaven and earth just to come visit with you"
How many of us are familiar with the woman with the alabaster box? In Matthew, the scripture gives an account of this woman and what she did for Jesus. Because of what this woman did, Jesus said wherever this good news (the Gospel) is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will be told also, in memory of her. As we study this woman and what she did we will understand what it truly means to worship Jesus with our best. We will also understand the price of the anointing and why we will be criticized and even mocked for carrying it.
Matt 26:6- 13- 6 Now when Jesus came back to Bethany and was in the house of Simon the leper,7A woman came up to Him with an alabaster flask of very precious perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at table. 8And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, for what purpose is all this waste? 9For this perfume might have been sold for a large sum and the money given to the poor. 10But Jesus, fully aware of this, said to them, why do you bother the woman? She has done a noble (praiseworthy and beautiful) thing to me. 11For you always have the poor among you, but you will not always have Me. 12In pouring this perfume on my body she has done something to prepare me for my burial. 13Truly I tell you, wherever this good news (the Gospel) is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will be told also, in memory of her.
This scripture talks about a woman, whose name is never mentioned. One translation says that she was a sinner. We are not sure how she knew that Jesus was there, but somehow she discovered that he was at Simon's house. She came to pour precious perfume on Jesus. However while she did, those around her became indignant and critical. They said it was a waste, she was foolish and they had a different idea how the money could be spent.
This woman somehow had heard that Jesus was in the house of Simon. Simon was a not only a leper but he practiced sorcery, better known as witchcraft. She was risking being exposed to leprosy and perhaps even being deceived by witchcraft. However, she came anyway. She went to see Jesus but she did not come empty handed. She came with her best gift that she had and poured it out. This perfume was costly, but it says that she poured it out. It is said that this perfume cost her an entire year's salary, but she didn't seem to care. Perhaps she recognized who she was pouring on and even though it was costly she intended to follow through.
When we know where to find Jesus we will go to Him, we will bring our best gifts and we will lavish them upon Him. This oil became a type of worship. This oil was something precious and costly to her that she wanted to give to Jesus. Perhaps this woman knew somehow that this is what she was supposed to do. I think sometimes regardless of the price you will make a sacrifice of praise in order to worship the Lord. When you can worship when your child is laying ill or dying in the hospital or when you stand over the grave of a loved one or when your spouse tells you they want a divorce. Or when the doctor tells you have cancer but you come to church and not only worship but lead praise and worship then your worship becomes a sacrifice of praise.
However, those that were around her, said it was foolish and wasteful. They even went as far as saying that they knew a better use for what she had. It's interesting how the enemy will always come with a judgmental critical spirit when you want to submit your heart to God. The enemy doesn't want you to give your best. He will tell you that there is a better way, that there is a less costly way, but his intentions are evil and his way will lead you away from the plan and purpose of God.
This woman went where most wouldn't go. Simon was a sorcerer (he practiced witchcraft) and he also had leprosy (skin disease). She went with good intentions and all she found was accusations, slander and false humility. It's interesting how Jesus set them all straight. He asked why they were saying these things and then He basically rebuked them. He also gave them a message, but because they weren't paying attention they missed it.
When we purpose it in our hearts to go after the things of God and submit our will to Him, the enemy will always come with a voice that is critical and judgmental. It will sound good, and perhaps even look good. However the end result will not bring forth any fruit. The enemy will always bring confusion into the picture and cause it to be distorted.
When we use your gifts for Jesus and attach the eternal purpose and plan to them it will cost us something. King David said in 1 Chronicles 21 that he would not give to the Lord that which cost him nothing! True worship will cost you something! It may even cost you your dignity. True worship throws pride to the wind! You know when I was reading about this woman and how she washed the feet of Jesus with her tears. She didn't care that mascara would run down her cheeks with her tears. She didn't care that her eyes would be all red and swollen. She didn't care what the others in the room would think about her. She didn't care about the whispers behind her back. She had come to worship the Most Holy One and she just didn't care about anything else or anyone else in the room at the moment. The Word tells us Mary let her hair down. This was just not heard of in those days, it was considered shameful for a woman to wear her down. When you decide to 'let your hair down' and worship God with all you have, with all that is within you people are gonna' talk about you. “Did you see Sister So and So standing up there with mascara running down her face? Doesn't she care what she looks like? Listen to her shout and watch her make a fool of herself dancing all around like that! Shameful!”
One other thing about this woman….she gave Him her very best. The most precious thing she had was a bottle of very expensive perfume. She didn't open the bottle and pour it on Jesus. She broke it! She came before Him broken! God says a broken and contrite spirit He will not deny. She came before Him broken and she anointed Him with the oil of her perfume. If God has anointed you, pour it back on Him. If God has gifted you in any way, give it back to Him. He gave His all and He wants your all, even in your worship! Can I tell you something…she came before Him broken but she left His presence whole and so will you. He can heal your brokenness! He alone can make you whole! Let Him! Whatever you need is on the other side of your worship!
The word tells that the flesh is weak but the spirit is willing. If we fail to recognize the purpose and the plan of God we will never understand the eternal purpose of our gifts. The greatest gift that we can give is the one that Jesus gave to us and that is eternal life to others. He wants us to pour out what we have inside us, and give it to others. When we carry God's anointing (His presence) His plan and purposes will burn in our hearts. We will see things the way He does and we will purpose it in our heart's to go after what is close to His heart. . . .the lost! God is searching the earth for those that will allow His fire to burn on the inside of them and take it to a lost and dying world. Time is running out and we ALL have a decision to make. What will you do with what He has put on the inside of you? There is a fire that will burn inside of those that see the plan and the purpose of God. They will know beyond a shadow of a doubt what to do with it.
"Faith is holding on when there's nothing to hold on to."
Editor's Comment:
About the Writer Author
State:
Texas
Country:
USA
Email:
ef_parker@yahoo.com
Website:
www.rockinchairgospel2.blogspot.com
Profile:
Click here!
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