Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking Him to meet with you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so He went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and 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. 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.” Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him 500 denarii, and the other 50. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of them both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. 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. 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—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.” 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 7:36-50
Devotion
Yesterday we saw that Jesus works to transform us in our hearts. Today we see that Jesus works to transform us in OUR LOVE FOR PEOPLE. In this story, the disdain this Pharisee had for this sinful woman was obvious. Jesus basically rebukes Simon’s lack of love for this hurting woman. Simon looked at her and was disgusted by what he saw. Jesus looked at her and saw the love in her heart. Jesus was able to see her value through the eyes of the Father. As Jesus works in our hearts, He enables us to see people the way He sees them.
The Big Question
Why was Jesus’ love for people so shocking in this situation? Are you quick to judge others? Are you able to empathize with “the least of these”? Do you see others the way God sees them?
Conclude your time in prayer and silence, reflecting on what God revealed to you today.