Alabaster Box Scriptures: The Power of Small Acts of Devotion
The Alabaster Box Shows Us The Way
Our lives are often consumed by the chaos and noise of the modern world. Between work, family obligations and devices constantly demanding our attention and the consumer culture telling us we need to buy more, do more, be more - it's easy to lose touch with what really matters. Our minds get cluttered with trivial concerns and anxieties, while our spirits grow weary and disconnected from the presence of God.
But the good news is, we all have access to the presence of God each and every day. We just have to learn to tune out the distractions and focus our awareness on God. The ancient, biblical story of the woman with the alabaster box shows us the way.
Alabaster Box Scriptures: Spiritual Meaning
The Gospel accounts in Mark 14:3-9, Luke 7:36-50, John 12:1-8 and Matthew 26:6-13 tell variations of this timeless story. In them we see examples of ordinary women performing profound acts of devotion. By anointing Jesus with expensive perfumes, they expressed their love, gratitude and dedication to the Lord right in the midst of their daily lives.
This took place in the context of a regular meal in a friend's home, surrounded by other members of the community. The women could have easily kept to themselves and not made a scene. But compelled by love, they openly poured out what was likely their greatest worldly treasure upon the feet of Jesus. They gave their very best to God.
Small Acts of Devotion
We may not have alabaster boxes of perfume to offer Jesus. But we all have simple ways we can devote ourselves to God daily. Setting aside time for prayer and Scripture reading is important. But let's also follow the examples of the women with the alabaster boxes.
Let's get creative and look for small acts of devotion to Jesus we can do throughout our regular daily activities.
Here are some ways to incorporate prayer into daily activities:
Cooking dinner: Offer a prayer of thanks to God for the provision of food as you cook dinner for your family.
Driving: Instead of getting impatient at a red light, use that time to pray for the other drivers around you.
Folding laundry: Say a prayer over each family member as you fold their clothes, asking God to watch over them.
Feeling stressed: When feeling stressed or overwhelmed, take a deep breath and invite God into your feelings and situation.
Morning coffee: As you take your first sip of coffee in the morning, thank God for another day to enjoy His blessings.
Washing dishes: Offer up a prayer for the needs of others while washing dishes, rather than focusing on your own worries.
Admiring nature: When you admire a beautiful flower or sunset, thank God for the gift of creation.
Paying bills: Say a prayer for those struggling financially as you pay your bills, rather than only thinking of your own needs.
Listening to music: When listening to worship music, sing along loudly with full devotion like no one is listening.
These are just a few examples of how we can incorporate more awareness of God into everything we do. We may not have expensive perfume, but love needs no material items. Simple acts like taking moments to pray, giving thanks, singing praise, releasing our anxieties and reflecting on Scripture can transform mundane tasks into offerings of worship.
Opportunities to Commune with God
Involving the Lord in everything, no matter how small, opens our eyes more fully to see the presence of the sacred in the ordinary—to view everyday as holy. It enables us to see God not just in grand cathedrals or mountaintops, but also in the quiet details of our everyday. Simple things like cooking and cleaning become opportunities to commune with God.
Colossians 3:23,
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.
This is a great reminder that we can live out our faith in real, practical ways right where we are.
Someone washing dishes can be led just as much by the Holy Spirit as someone preaching from a pulpit. Someone stuck in traffic can have just as much opportunity to praise God as someone singing in a worship band.
We all have potential to have a life saturated in God’s presence if we just view the everyday through His eyes.
This doesn’t require expensive perfume or lavish displays. The quiet whispers of our heart are offerings just the same.
In Luke 10:38-42, Jesus honors Mary who simply sat at His feet listening to Him above her sister busy with housework. As Christ said, “Few things are needed - or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better.”
Mary chose the good part, the better portion - to spend time with Jesus and value Him above everything else.
In our noisy, hectic lives, we all need more “Mary moments” - times we intentionally sit at the Lord’s feet, listening to His voice within our spirit. This revival for the soul breathes new life into even the most routine day.
When we make space for God in the everyday, suddenly cooking and cleaning are transformed into acts of worship. Traffic jams become a moment to invoke His peace. Laundry folds become prayers of blessing over family. Flowers become a reminder of God’s glory.
The Woman with Her Alabaster Box
The woman with her alabaster box reminds us to never underestimate the power of small, sincere offerings given from the heart. She could have kept that expensive perfume all for herself. Instead, she lavished it upon Jesus. Let us also look for creative ways to lavish our love upon God throughout the everyday.
In the quiet whispers of devotion, we honor the Lord just as profoundly today as was done generations ago. We simply have to tune out the noise and focus our heart’s attention on Him. Slow down, breathe deep, open your heart’s awareness. God is waiting to meet us in the present moment if we just pay attention to Him. He’s there in your everyday, at your school, workplace, home, sports practice, restaurant, everywhere you are.
The extravagant devotion of the women with their alabaster boxes echo still today - not off in some distant holy place, but right here in our living rooms, offices, cars and kitchens. God is inviting us to glimpse eternity in the everyday. May we answer that call in our own small, sincere ways through acts of love and devotion right where we are.