The Cost of Devotion
“The Bible says, ‘Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me.’ And the amazing thing is that one of the most amazing stories of worship isn’t somebody that sang a song. It was somebody who broke something so precious to be able to pour it over Jesus. And this is the woman with the alabaster box.
She had to break that jar to be able to open up her oils, that fragrance, and anoint Jesus in preparation for His burial. And so, many people might have told her that she was crazy for having broken something so costly, so expensive. But for her, it didn’t matter the cost; all that mattered was her appreciation and worship to God—her thanksgiving before the Lord.
So, I have to ask you: What are you willing to give to the Lord? Are we giving our all to Him, not mattering the cost? It’s that sacrifice, that total surrender that she shows us in denying herself to be able to follow Jesus.”
Key Takeaways
- Worship with Courage
- The Beauty of Surrender
- Gratitude in Action
The story of the woman with the alabaster box is one of the most profound examples of worship in Scripture. She didn’t just give a portion; she broke something costly and irreplaceable to anoint Jesus. Her act was misunderstood by many as a waste, but to Jesus, it was a beautiful preparation for His burial and a testament to her deep gratitude.
We are called to live with that same “alabaster” spirit. Courageous worship means identifying the things we hold most dear—our time, our reputation, or our resources—and being willing to surrender them for His glory. When we break through our comfort zones, we release a fragrance of faith that impacts everyone around us.
