Manna in the Morning Broken Alabaster Boxes — E.A. Johnston

Hello friends, this is manna in the morning and our devotion today is broken. Alabaster boxes. Our scripture passages found in the Gospel of Mark and chapter 14 and in verse 3 we see in God's Word and Being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper as he said at meat.

Mary’s Costly Offering in Bethany

There came a woman having a alabaster box of ointment of spikenard. Very precious and she break the box and poured it on his head. This woman was Mary and this box of ointment was very precious our passage states in John's gospel record of this same account.

The Fragrance Released Through Brokenness

He notes that a pound of spikenard was very costly. Spikenard was a much-valued perfume that grew from the root of a Indian plant from the Himalayan Mountains. But notice friends the alabaster box had first to be broken before the sweet aroma could fill the entire house and be a blessing.

Pouring Out Our Lives for Christ and the Gospel

And this act of Mary speaks of how Followers of Christ must be willing To give their very best to him and pour their lives out for him and the sake of the gospel. God's eyes are continually searching the earth for those rare individuals who are willing to sacrifice all for him and who live in a different atmosphere.

Selflessness and Self-Sacrifice Through the Cross

By annihilating self with the cross and whose lives are broken alabaster boxes. From which fragrances arise to the heavens from the broken pieces of selflessness and self-sacrifice. These fragrant lives will be a blessing to all who come in contact with them.

A Prayer for Fragrant Lives of Usefulness

Great God Make us more fragrant for thee in lives of usefulness to thee. I pray this in the strong name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.