Grace for the Sinner - she's a prostitute, someone society has written off completely. Yet she dares to enter this lion's den of religious leaders who are ready to devour her. Jesus doesn't look at her with judgment but with love. He doesn’t see her guilt, but her worth. She weeps uncontrollably, washing His feet with her tears. She lets down her hair - scandalous in that culture - to dry His feet. Then she kisses them and pours costly perfume over them in humble worship. You might think your past disqualifies you from God's grace. The truth is, your sin is the only thing that qualifies you for His grace. You don't clean up your act first, then receive grace. You receive grace first, then have the power to change. When shame whispers that you're too far gone, remember this woman. Jesus receives you exactly as you are

"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. 

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." - Luke 7:37-38 (NIV)

Picture walking into a room where you know you don't belong. 

The silence hits you like a wall. 

Every eye turns. 

Every conversation stops. 

That's exactly what happens when this woman enters the Pharisee's house.

She's a prostitute, someone society has written off completely. 

Yet she dares to enter this lion's den of religious leaders who are ready to devour her. 

Why? 

Because she's encountered Jesus before and heard something that changed everything: grace.

Jesus doesn't look at her with judgment but with love.

He doesn’t see her guilt, but her worth. 

What happens next breaks every cultural rule of the day. 

She weeps uncontrollably, washing His feet with her tears.

She lets down her hair - scandalous in that culture - to dry His feet. 

Then she kisses them and pours costly perfume over them in humble worship.

You might think your past disqualifies you from God's grace. 

The truth is, your sin is the only thing that qualifies you for His grace. 

You don't clean up your act first, then receive grace.

You receive grace first, then have the power to change.

When shame whispers that you're too far gone, remember this woman. 

Jesus receives you exactly as you are.

Father, thank You for receiving me in my sin.

Create in me a heart of worship like this woman's, so I may always come to You with gratitude and wholehearted devotion. 

In Jesus' name, 

Amen.

Living Light Daily Devotional

Touching Lives with Dr. James Merritt 

Under the leadership and dynamic preaching of Dr. James Merritt, Touching Lives exists to touch the lives of the lost and enrich the faith of the found. Our goal is to present the eternal, never-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ to all who would hear and pray for the Holy Spirit to move mightily among His people.

Touching Lives is currently broadcast in all 50 states and in over 140 countries around the world. All sermons, articles, and other content is made available through various digital media formats on the web. Literally millions of people have been affected through the ministry of Touching Lives with thousands responding to the Gospel of Jesus for the very first time.

touchinglives.org

You might also like: