Everyone Is—Wednesday
Good morning! How’s the week going so far? Is your Bible Study group going okay? Name 3 new people you’ve met this week:
Psalm 118:24 says: “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!” Take a moment and look around. Write something you are glad about!
So, yesterday we learned that everyone is broken. I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty good at picking out other people who are broken, but maybe not myself? “Sure, I’ve screwed up, but I’m not as bad as she is!” or “Hey, I’m not perfect, but at least I’m better than they are!”
Do you remember the time Jesus had dinner with some people who were thinking just like this? Here it is…
One of the Pharisees asked him over for a meal. He went to the Pharisee’s house and sat down at the dinner table. Just then a woman of the village, the town harlot, having learned that Jesus was a guest in the home of the Pharisee, came with a bottle of very expensive perfume and stood at his feet, weeping, raining tears on his feet. Letting down her hair, she dried his feet, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfume. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man was the prophet I thought he was, he would have known what kind of woman this is who is falling all over him.”…Then turning to the woman, but speaking to Simon, Jesus said, “Do you see this woman? I came to your home; you provided no water for my feet, but she rained tears on my feet and dried them with her hair. You gave me no greeting, but from the time I arrived she hasn’t quit kissing my feet. You provided nothing for freshening up, but she has soothed my feet with perfume. Impressive, isn’t it? She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal.” (Luke 7:36-39, 44-47, Message)
Do you identify with anyone in this story? The woman? The Pharisee? The others around the table? Jesus?
The truth is, we all have the opportunity to be each one of these characters. Sometimes we get to offer forgiveness like Jesus. Sometimes we are judging people like the Pharisee or the others at the table. Sometimes we are the one needing forgiveness.
Ask God to remind you of a time you needed to be forgiven. Thank God for that time, and ask for the courage today to share that same forgiveness with others.