FEBRUARY 10^TH

FORGIVEN (Continued)

 Scripture Reading:           

Luke 7:36-50 (KJV) "And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that [Jesus] sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at his feet behind [him] weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe [them] with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed [them] with the ointment.  Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw [it], he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman [this is] that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?  Simon answered and said, I suppose that [he], to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped [them] with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, [the same] loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."

     With the fullness of Christ, the woman in this passage who pictures His Church, has nothing to do but lavish her love upon Him through continual worship and adoration.  What could she possibly need if she has His fullness?  His fullness includes her!   What else can  she do except love Him with all her heart, soul, strength, mind and her neighbor as herself?  (Luke 10:27).  As she devotes her full attention to Him, He shows off her love for Him.  Let us read again from  the  above  passage  and notice what He said to Simon.  "And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped [them] with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: ..."  Love here is agape or unconditional love.  She received the ability to love as He does in the Divine Exchange.  Glory to His Name!

     If we are not prayerful, we may miss the Exchange.  Watch as it grasps you in the next few lines.  Although the woman went to Simon’s house because she knew Jesus was already there, Jesus stated, "...but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet."  He did not say, "since the time she came in" but rather, "since the time I came in."  Did you grasp It as It grasped you?  She fully surrendered to Jesus through worship, and He came into her heart!  That is exactly what He wants to do for each and every person He created.  Glory to God!  She has already begun to enjoy His fullness while Simon or religion is still concerned about her sins. A sinner is what she was before she entered into the Master’s Presence and surrendered wholly unto Him.  The lesson bonus at this point is that Jesus can be in your house, but you may be missing His fullness if you are not fully surrendered to Him and worshipping Him.  "He that hath an ear let him hear."

Continued