The Secret of the Alabaster Box
Written by Sarah Ann E.
With excerpts taken from the book, "Lady In Waiting"
Used with permission

 

What first comes to your mind when you think of an alabaster box? I think of Mary when she broke her alabaster box at the Lord’s feet. I am sure that was one of the first things that you thought of.

While I was reading the book “Lady In Waiting” I came across a description of what an alabaster box meant in Bible times. It says “ when a young woman reached the age of availability for marriage, her family would purchase an alabaster box for her to fill with precious ointment. This alabaster box would be part of her dowry. When a young man came to ask for her in marriage, she would respond by taking the alabaster box and breaking it at his feet. This gesture of anointing his feet showed him honor.” WOW. Now, compare that to Mary when she anointed her Lord’s feet. She was showing honor to the Lord, as if He was her Bridegroom. We see that this action was not just for His burial. She was literally giving herself to the Lord. “She was a sinner, but this sinner had dreams and wisely broke her alabaster box in the presence of the only One who can make a woman’s dreams come true.”

“What is in your alabaster box? Is your box full of fantasies that began as a little girl while you listened to and watched fairy tales about an enchanting couple living happily ever after? Have you been holding on tightly to your alabaster box of dreams, frantically searching for a man worthy of breaking your box? Take your alabaster box to Jesus and break it in His presence, for He is worthy of such honor. Having responded to your heavenly Bridegroom in such a manner, you can wait with confident assurance that, if it be God’s will, He will provide you with an earthly bridegroom.”

“How do you know if you have broken your alabaster box at the feet of Jesus? Such a decision will be reflected in reckless abandonment to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. When the Lord gives you a difficult assignment, such as another dateless month, you receive His terms without resentment. Your attitude will reflect Mary’s response to the angel when she, as a single woman, was given a most difficult assignment. Mary said, ‘I belong to the Lord, body and soul. . . let it happen as you say. . .’ (Luke 1:38 Phillips). Take your alabaster box, with your body, soul, and dreams, and entrust them to Jesus. When He is your Lord, you can joyfully walk in the path of life that He has for you.”

What a rebuke. Have we really given our all to the Lord -- our hopes, dreams, EVERYTHING??? I know that before I read this, I thought that my Lord had all of me. Now I know that He didn’t. The Lord needs to hold all our desires. He will let them come to pass in His right time. Let us allow the Lord to hold our alabaster box at ALL TIMES. He is the only one who deserves to have it anyway. It doesn’t make sense at all to wait until you are a married woman to give your all to the Lord. When you have given your all to the Lord, He will lead you and Mr. Right together by drawing you both closer to Him.

 

 

 

 

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