LADY IN WAITING by debby jones & jackie kendal

Chapter 1: Lady of Reckless Abandonment
- Secret of the Alabaster Box

In the days of Jesus, when a woman reached the age of availability for marriage, her family would purchase an alabaster box for her and fill it 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.

One day, when Jesus was eating in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came in, broke an alabaster box and poured the valuable ointment on Jesus’ head (Mk 14:3 – 9). This woman found Jesus worthy of such sacrifice and honor. In fact, Jesus memorialized her gesture in Matthew 26:13.

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 tightly to your alabaster box of dreams, frantically searching for a man worthy of breaking your box? Take your alabaster box 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, 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…” (Lk 1:38) 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.

- Satisfied by a Heavenly Fiancé

Does your relationship with Jesus reflect reckless abandonment to Him, or does it reflect only tokenism, a superficial effort toward following Jesus? Are you content to offer Him that which cost you nothing? Does your commitment to Jesus cause those around you to seriously consider whether Jesus is Lord of their lives? Or does your “token” relationship leave you and others still thirsty?

Choose right now to put mediocrity behind you; courageously determine to pursue Jesus with your whole heart, soul and mind. As a single woman, this is the perfect moment to establish a radical relationship with Jesus!!