I have always struggled with insecurity. Fear of what other people thought about me, how they viewed me, how I measured up in their eyes. Even as a Christian, that fear can be debilitating. Keeping us from reaching our full potential as followers of Christ – limiting our use for kingdom advancement even limiting our church attendance and participation in corporate worship. Too often we find ourselves measuring our own growth against our brother and sister’s outward spiritual maturity. When we should be measuring ourselves according to God’s word and our love for Him.

One biblical sister that I admire for her lack of regard for others opinions, is the woman with the alabaster jar. Luke tells us of a very sinful woman who came to the exact place where she knew she would be ridiculed just to see her Savior. This woman took all that she had to offer – a bottle of expensive perfume equal to a full years wages at that time – even though others thought she should have saved it. This same woman burst through the home of a man interrupting a feast filled to capacity with onlookers ready to get their gossip on. Desperate for Jesus, desperate to worship, desperate for forgiveness. This woman violated numerous moral codes – letting down her hair, wiping a man’s feet with it – in public for everyone to see.

“When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” Luke 7:36-39 NIV

This woman’s desire, desperation and drive motivated her far beyond the opinions of those in the room. She knew they didn’t think much of her, she knew they didn’t feel that she was worthy to be in the same room as Jesus, but she pressed ahead because she knew the One that she was going to see loved her ….regardless of her sinful condition. Imagine if she would have been intimated by their opinions? Imagine if she would have been paralyzed by her insecurity? Imagine if she would have caved under her own expectations of what that moment should have been like instead of seizing it for a time of true worship, of true intimacy with the Savior? Her act was the only recorded act of open worship of Jesus during His time on earth. Not only does does Jesus commend the woman for her faith, He promises her that wherever the gospel is preached her story will be told (Matthew 26:13). What a wonderful model that she left for us. If Jesus wanted this story to be shared and told for ages to come, can you imagine how important it is for Him for us to be who we were created to be – unashamed, unembarrassed, holding back nothing? He wants us to come to Him just as we are. As we seek Him, as we worship Him, as we praise Him, as we honor Him, He will honor us…..Our testimonies of overcoming will be shared for years to come. When we look at at this story we also see how she was willing to go above and beyond with those that were in Jesus’ presence even dared or thought to do. They thought that it was just enough to host Jesus, to sit at the table with Him. He desired more.

Is your insecurity limiting your availability for kingdom advancement? Is your fear from who you used to be hindering you from using the gifts and talents that you have to honor God? Is what other’s opinion’s of you keeping you from moving forward in your worship, in your ministry, in your marriage, parenting or occupation?

Burst through those doors, burst through those ceilings, honor God by honoring who He made you to be. He knows it all, the past, the present and the future and His love for you and purpose for you – is unmoved, unchanged, and unfailing.

Forever Grateful,

J