Greetings to you in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ – THE Risen Saviour! What a delightful morning in the Kingdom – after an amazing sunset last evening … we are so blessed! – and we sing “praises” to His name! I have a sense that this is going to be one of those “given days” – so, pay attention and see what God is up to in your life. Today I will be praying for you, asking Father to release a healing presence that will influence you physically, emotionally, spiritually, and relationally.
Yesterday as I was doing my morning readings, God used a word-phrase in a scripture verse to initiate a memory. In Matthew 26 we read the story of the woman breaking a bottle of perfume (fragrant oil) open to anoint Jesus. As you may recall there was considerable criticism and Jesus asked, “Why are you so critical of this woman? She has done a beautiful act of kindness for me.” Matthew 26:10 TPT. I recall reading that verse during a sermon and having my daughter tell me after the service that she liked how I said the word – “beautiful”. Over the next few weeks I spoke that word as often as I could and it always seemed to bring a smile to my daughter’s face.
I reflected on the idea that this was a beautiful act…breaking a bottle – alabaster flask, actually – and pouring the contents over Jesus’ head. There was a detail overlooked in the story…what happened to this broken alabaster flask, which in itself was valuable. I don’t know for sure but I think the pieces might have been gathered up and later repaired. In fact, as I pondered this a sermon started to appear in my mind. The fragrant oil-perfume represents the Holy Spirit. The flask represents the church, you and I, that carries the Holy Spirit so that it can be poured out, not through our perfection but our brokenness. When the broken bits and pieces of our lives are gathered up so that we can be mended…our beautiful act of outflow causes the beautiful act of inflow that mends.
There is a Chinese tradition of repairing broken pottery by pouring melted gold into the cracks. It is called “kintsugi” or the golden repair. There is strength in the imperfect and an indescribable beauty. I have seen some of the examples of kintsugi and there is a treasured beauty in the objects. Again, Scripture says that we are going to be restored and mended in order that we can be presented faultless to the King of glory. In Psalm 45 it tells of how the church will be presented as the beautiful bride adorned with gold. In Song of Songs, the bridegroom (Jesus) describes His bride (the church) as – “every part of you is so beautiful.”
And what is the “beautiful act” that we are able to do that will draw God’s attention – it will be our ‘feet’ – “How beautiful are the feet of those who share the “good news”. As I understand it, the most beautiful thing that we can do is carry the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ into the lives of people that will listen, that will be influenced, that will be challenged, that will respond.
It is amazing what one word,, coming to you at just the right moment can do! May one word transform your ordinary day into a “beautiful” one.