Living Faithfully: Daily Devotions to Guide Your Path

SATURDAY, 20 JANUARY 2024

TEXT: Luke 7:36-50

36: When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.

37: A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume.

38: As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured 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 who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

40: Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said.

41: “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.

42: Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

43: Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “Y ou have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

44: Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “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.

45: You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.

46: You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.

47: Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

48: Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

49: The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

50: Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

(New International Version Holy Bible)

TOPIC: GRATITUDE TO GOD FOR OUR SALVATION

People invite the Lord Jesus into their lives today for reasons that could be noble, truthful, selfish, deceitful or mere lip service. Whatever our true motives, the Lord Jesus knows.

Moreover, those who truly accept Christ because they are convicted of their sinfulness and their desperate need for forgiveness would be sincerely grateful to Him, which would show!

Those who are grateful to the Lord and love Him so much would take time to reflect and realize the many blessings of God upon their lives, just like the woman.

Believers who do not take time to reflect on God and what He has done for them would not love and appreciate Him much.

Instead, they would be found grumbling, especially when they are competitive and jealous. Simon was just seeing the woman's past life but the Lord Jesus was looking at her future life.

The woman was saved by her faith in the Lord Jesus and not by her crying or weeping.

QUESTION: How grateful are you to God for your salvation?

PRAYER: Gracious Lord, thank You so much for saving me and help me not to hold others to their past lives but to praise and worship You in gratitude for what you have done for them, in Jesus name. Amen.