15 OCT 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional
“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. Then Jesus said to the woman, ‘Your sins are forgiven’.” Acts 7:47-48
People get bent out of shape when a very evil person is shown kindness or mercy. We like to distance ourselves from the truly wicked and hope they receive the maximum justice. We don’t want someone to get away with the evil they committed. Internally, we recognize there is good, evil, and hope for justice. In many cases what we are looking for is revenge.
In the story above, an extremely sinful woman crashes a house party of a very righteous person. There was no way this woman would have ever been invited to this man’s house. If anything, he would want her in jail. When she entered the home, she cried in the presence of Jesus and began washing his feet with her tears and pouring very expensive perfume on them as well. This was a picture of remorse for her sins, repentance, and worship.
You notice what happens, the religious man gets angry and even insults Jesus in his mind for allowing this nasty woman to touch him. Jesus receives the repentance and the worship from the woman and then explains to the religious man that she has sinned very much, but has loved very much. While the one who thought he was righteous sinned and did not love Jesus in response. Jesus, who has the authority to forgive sins, forgave hers and not the religious man.
Jesus came seeking sinners who cannot save themselves, not those who think they are righteous. We have to look in the mirror and ask ourselves a couple of questions. Are we rejecting those who need Jesus? How much do we love Jesus?
Is our self-righteous attitude keeping others from receiving forgiveness?
Reading Plan: Psalm 146, 147; Jer. 36:1-10; Acts 14:8-18; Luke 7:36-50
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