The idea of being broken is something that in the natural I want to see remedied without delay. When something, or someone, is broken then I feel that a fix is what is called for, and not a temporary fix. I want to see it as long lasting and permanent.
I will not deny what is broken, but I want to see it dealt with immediately, so an individual can move on and forward.
Beauty for ashes is a topic that we have heard taught on often, and we know it is spoken to encourage us. That encouragement to a believer brings an understanding that what they endured was not without purpose and gain. But, although those examples are important, today’s post is a bit different.
There is one Scripture that immediately comes to mind for me this morning. What is interesting about this particular Scripture is that the woman mentioned was probably appealing in appearance, and yet there was a real essense of beauty that occurred out of the ashes of a life of sin when she was forgiven by Jesus.
As I read the passage in Luke, I visualize this woman washing the feet of Jesus with her tears, drying His feet with her hair, and then anointing those Anointed feet with expensive perfume. A woman who was broken, and yet Jesus offered her wholeness. A profound picture of brokenness that is beautiful in all respects, with an absolute posture of surrender and thankfulness. What is striking to me is she was openly displaying her devotion of Jesus in front of men who likely knew here, or knew of her, and she was not deterred.
To be broken, and then restored by the Lord, is unlike anything else we will ever experience. When we are broken by our surrender, our deep submission, and our thankfulness we are forever changed. We now carry the fragrant beauty of Jesus and we step out into a life like no other.
Luke 7:37-38 CSB And a woman in the town who was a sinner found out that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house. She bought an alabaster jar of perfume and stood behind Him at his feet, weeping, and began to wash His feet with her tears. She wiped His feet with her hair, kissing them and anointing them with the perfume.
Luke 7: 47 CSB Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much.But the one who is forgiven little, loves little. Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
Luke 7:59 CSB And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”