“A Pharisee invited Jesus for dinner. Jesus went and reclined at the table. A woman, who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was there. So she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. She stood behind Him at his feet weeping. She wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair, kissing and perfuming them. 

The Pharisee saw this, and said to himself, ‘If this Man were a prophet, He would know that the one touching Him is a sinner.’

Jesus to him, … ‘Two people owed money… One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither could pay so the Lender forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?’

‘I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven,’ he answered. 

‘You have judged correctly,’Jesus said.

Then He turned toward the woman, ‘Do you see this woman? I came to your house. You did not give any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give Me a kiss, but this woman… has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on My head, but she has perfumed my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven… Whoever has been forgiven much, loves much and whoever has been forgiven little loves little.’

Then Jesus said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven… Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’” Luke 7:36-50 (NIV)

Dear Jesus, 

In all the world, the sins and failings we dread most are our own. Like Paul, we feel the chief sinner. We care about the sins of others because we know how our own weighed heavily upon us—things we wish we had not thought, said or done. 

Thank you for this gift of faith to believe You carried our sin and its shame to the cross just as You planned. You destroyed sin’s power over us. We weep with the joy of our salvation and the nearness of You. Truly, our sins are forgiven; proven by Your Resurrection and those beautiful words from the cross, “It Is Finished!” (John 19:30).

Let our life be the perfume of devotion to You– all we think, say and do. We owe You the debt of love, dear Lender. You have wiped away our debt. We love you, Jesus. 

In Your Name  Forever

Photo credit: Daniel Thomas, https://unsplash.com/@dtbosse