Broken, but beautiful
Photo: April Wefler
God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Often, people approach Jesus when they have come to the end of themselves.
Mary, the woman who brought her alabaster ointment to anoint Jesus, was looked down upon by her peers. They knew her past and that was as far as they could see. When she went to see Jesus, they were displeased. People try to stop what they don't understand.
But she pressed on into Jesus' presence; she wanted something out of the ordinary, She wanted Jesus and the one who knows the end from the beginning allowed her in., despite the messiness of her past. Jesus' response to her broke down the walls she had built up and brought out the woman who stood by the cross, despite the threats. When love kissed her, she was broken - broken, but beautiful.
God's love breaks our walls of self-defense and allows us the privilege to be poured out for God's greater purpose. The alabaster box was so significant that when love broke her, the woman burst open the box - she broke free. She poured the content at Jesus' feet, mixed with her tears from a contrite heart and cleaned it off with her hair. In 1 Corinthians 11:15, we are taught that a woman's long hair is her glory. The box was just a box, but love caused the overflowing of the expensive content and the fragrance was undoubtedly amazing.
Our weaknesses are simply boxes the enemy wants us to be in. And sometimes when we want to surrender completely, the very people who the Devil can use are people around us. The woman broke the box and now, we have not stopped talking about her story. The fragrance of the oil lives on.
Brokenness is difficult, but that does not mean it is not also beautiful. The Bible says that God does not despise a broken spirit and a contrite heart (Psalm 51:17.) True repentance is the junction of brokenness and a contrite heart.
If you have not yet had that encounter with Jesus, then here is your opportunity. Lay it all at His feet today and let Him put the pieces back together. All that He makes is beautiful and stays beautiful, no matter how broken.
