Corona Devo 434

One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat. (37) When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. (38) Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.

(39) When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”

(40) Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.”

“Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied.

(41) Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. (42) But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?”

(43) Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.”

“That’s right,” Jesus said. (44) Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. (45) You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. (46) You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume.

(47) “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” (48) Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”

(49) The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins?”

(50) And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” ~Luke 7:36-50

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One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat. ~Luke 7:36

Jesus went and Jesus will come to anyone that invites Him and to anyone that desires His presence.

In the beginning of this story, it is a Pharisee: someone that knew God's Laws inside and out, and lived them pridefully and self-righteously in front of others. (Know any "Pharisees"? Do we ever "act" like Pharisees?) The pride of the Pharisees preceded them, but when this Pharisee asked Jesus to join him for dinner, Jesus did.

If we are willing, (and this Pharisee was)--then Jesus will not allow our pride to separate us from him. But we have to take a humble step toward Jesus. If we ask Jesus to join us, he will never refuse.

Jesus went and Jesus will come to anyone that invites him and to anyone that desires His presence.

When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there... ~Luke 7:37

Here is the next person in the story that invited Jesus "in". In contrast to the pride of the Pharisee, this "certain immoral woman" invited Jesus in without a spoken word, but through her complete humility and silent acts of worship to Him.

I find it ironic that she is labeled an "immoral woman" because all of us are "immoral". (For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. ~Romans 3:23). But I realize that for my understanding of grace and yours, Jesus contrasted her "public" and "known" sin against the Pharisee's (more private) sin.

Ringing any bells in your heart or mind? Let Jesus speak to you through all of these characters today.

Jesus highlights that although all of us should be grateful for God's forgiveness, those of us who are rescued from deeper (and acknowledged) sin have a deeper, unabashed gratitude to God for His forgiveness.

...she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. (38) Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them. ~Luke 7:37-38

This "certain immoral woman" was not ashamed for anyone to see her raw faith and submission to Jesus. She had seen Him heal and forgive others and she came desperate for the same.

The next character in the story to invite Jesus "in" is us. Today, let's get real and get intimate with Him, and let's go deep. The Pharisee acknowledged and submitted his sins superficially and so he received God's grace the same way. But Let's get real with ourselves about our sin and turn from it. Let's own it and repent authentically like a "certain immoral woman" did. Her repentance and submission was authentic and so then was her receiving of grace.

Who do you suppose loved him more after that?”

(43) Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.”

“That’s right,” Jesus said. -Luke 7:42-43

What I love most about the "certain immoral woman" is that she is us.

Today, Jesus looks into our eyes and speaks into our soul: “I tell you, (your) sins—and they are many—have been forgiven... (50) “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” ~Luke 7:47, 50

Invite Jesus into your story today. If we ask Him to join us, he will never refuse.

Go in peace.

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com