And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He [Jesus] sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask [box] of very costly oil of spikenard [perfume]. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head.
— Mark 14:3 NKJV
I believe that breaking (saying no to) the flesh is what today’s scripture is about. The woman broke that box so the expensive perfume could be poured out. In the same way, we have to “break” our flesh.
We all have sweet perfume in us. But our alabaster box (our flesh) has to be broken so the perfume (the good things of God) can flow out of us. We are “pregnant” with the good things of God. We each have the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, faith, meekness, and temperance. But many times our alabaster box (our flesh) keeps them from being poured out.
Oh, but we love our alabaster box. We don’t want to break it because, after all, it is such a pretty box. We spend so much time taking care of it; we don’t want it to be broken. But we must love God more than we love anything else. We need to circumcise our flesh and be willing to let go of the things of the flesh, so God’s blessings can flow to us and through us.
Love God Today: “Lord, I choose to break my alabaster box in order to express my love for You and receive everything You have for me.”
A Meal to Anticipate
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
Luke 22:14–16
What we commonly call the Last Supper was the observance of Passover by Jesus and His disciples in Jerusalem the night before Jesus’ crucifixion. Though He had told them that He would die in Jerusalem they did not really understand what was about to happen. But with full knowledge of the plan that His Father had set in place even before the creation of the world, Jesus celebrated the feast that commemorated the deliverance of Israel from Egypt and foreshadowed His death as the Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world.
In the Jewish culture of Jesus’ day there was a wonderful feast that accompanied the celebration of a wedding. Friends and family would gather and spend time together enjoying a special meal—one they had looked forward to since the wedding had been announced months before. Though they did not know exactly when it would happen, they eagerly anticipated the announcement of the arrival of the bridegroom.
The Bible uses this as a picture of what will happen after Jesus returns. There will be a great feast, and it is one that not only we but the Lord Himself is eagerly looking forward to celebrating. “And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God” (Revelation 19:9). We have an appointment with our Saviour. Though we do not know exactly when it will be, we know it is certain. This truth should encourage us every day.
Luke 22:14–16
What we commonly call the Last Supper was the observance of Passover by Jesus and His disciples in Jerusalem the night before Jesus’ crucifixion. Though He had told them that He would die in Jerusalem they did not really understand what was about to happen. But with full knowledge of the plan that His Father had set in place even before the creation of the world, Jesus celebrated the feast that commemorated the deliverance of Israel from Egypt and foreshadowed His death as the Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world.
In the Jewish culture of Jesus’ day there was a wonderful feast that accompanied the celebration of a wedding. Friends and family would gather and spend time together enjoying a special meal—one they had looked forward to since the wedding had been announced months before. Though they did not know exactly when it would happen, they eagerly anticipated the announcement of the arrival of the bridegroom.
The Bible uses this as a picture of what will happen after Jesus returns. There will be a great feast, and it is one that not only we but the Lord Himself is eagerly looking forward to celebrating. “And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God” (Revelation 19:9). We have an appointment with our Saviour. Though we do not know exactly when it will be, we know it is certain. This truth should encourage us every day.
Today’s Growth Principle:
Our walk with God in this life is wonderful, but it pales in comparison to what is coming next.
Break Your Box
by Joyce Meyer - posted October 08, 2016And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He [Jesus] sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask [box] of very costly oil of spikenard [perfume]. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head.
— Mark 14:3 NKJV
I believe that breaking (saying no to) the flesh is what today’s scripture is about. The woman broke that box so the expensive perfume could be poured out. In the same way, we have to “break” our flesh.
We all have sweet perfume in us. But our alabaster box (our flesh) has to be broken so the perfume (the good things of God) can flow out of us. We are “pregnant” with the good things of God. We each have the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, faith, meekness, and temperance. But many times our alabaster box (our flesh) keeps them from being poured out.
Oh, but we love our alabaster box. We don’t want to break it because, after all, it is such a pretty box. We spend so much time taking care of it; we don’t want it to be broken. But we must love God more than we love anything else. We need to circumcise our flesh and be willing to let go of the things of the flesh, so God’s blessings can flow to us and through us.
Love God Today: “Lord, I choose to break my alabaster box in order to express my love for You and receive everything You have for me.”
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