Reflection
Part of my devotion from yesterday morning came from the seventh chapter of Luke. It was the story of Jesus having dinner at a Pharisee’s house.
A sinful woman came and moistened Jesus’ feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair while kissing and dousing them with perfume during dinner.
The Pharisee couldn’t see past the woman’s sin to learn the lesson she was giving. His self-righteousness had blinded him to the quiet lecture beautifully presented by a sinful woman.
Jesus knew what the Pharisee was thinking and said to him, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me 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, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven–as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” (Luke 7:44-47)
The cool thing about Jesus in this story is that throughout the gospels he used those viewed by the self-righteous Pharisees as being “sinful” to teach lessons. He also didn’t leave the “sinful” off the hook without also teaching them a lesson as we see at the end of Luke Chapter 7…Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Luke 7:48-50
Questions
Back to the opening quote…
How often do we act like the Pharisees and allow our self-righteous nature to rob us of our peace because we want everyone to see the world as we see it?
I try my best to view the world as a sinner who needs continual forgiveness and therefore has no time to keep track of the sins of others.
When I am more concerned about removing the log in my eye and less concerned about the specks in the eyes of others–I see the world in a better way.
Your sins are forgiven…Your faith has saved you…go in peace. (Jesus’ words in Luke 7:48-50)
Matthew 7:1-5, “”Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
Journal your thoughts:
What am I grateful for today?
In what way(s) will I bring light to the world today?
What will I deny myself so I may draw closer to God and gain more peace in my life today?
Prayer:
God, I offer myself to Thee—To build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life. May I do Thy will always! Amen. (Third Step Prayer – Chapter 5, pg.63, The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous)
P.E.A.C.E.
Jay@EagleLaunch.com
