|
Listen to this devotional: |
Listen while you read: "Jesus Calls Us"1 (Lyrics) |
Luke 7:48,50b – Then Jesus said to the woman, "Your sins are forgiven. … Your faith has saved you; go in peace." (NLT)
Fundamentalist was the term that Dad used to describe himself. Mom's take on things, I was unsure about. Occasionally, I would pick up vibes that she disagreed with some of Dad's philosophy. I knew that he believed that faith was the way to God, but the constant emphasis on rules seemed to interfere with what he attempted to teach me about God. What seeped through was the "thou shalt nots". When I finally began meditating on God's Word rather than just reading it, I discovered that God wanted more in our relationship than my obeying a list.
I doubt that the sinful woman who approached Jesus attended the synagogue. She was considered a "sinner" and probably wouldn't have been welcome. She wasn't invited to this party either, but for some reason, Simon, the host, didn't throw her out. Apparently, her actions toward Jesus greatly astonished Simon and the guests. Perhaps they let her carry out her actions so that they could get more proof that Jesus wasn't the Messiah. Either way, she stayed and cried on Jesus' feet, wiped off her tears with her hair, and anointed His feet with perfume.
Jesus rewarded her actions with praise. He didn't give her a list of things to do when she left if she wanted to be His disciple. He merely recognized her faith and told her to go in peace. She had discovered what the religious leaders thought they had — but hadn't. Their service to God was like mine when I was young — obeying a list of commands. Jesus went deeper with the woman.
The philosophy of the religious elite of Jesus' day was plain. They connected to God through obeying numerous rituals and hundreds of commands. The result was failure and turmoil. By allowing the sinful woman to perform her ritual, Jesus tried to demonstrate their error. His philosophy has to do with repentance and faith. Her actions portrayed her faith, and her faith – not rote obedience to rules — saved her. She received what the religious snobs tried so hard but failed to obtain — a relationship.
What philosophy of religion are you following? If it doesn't include repentance and faith, it will fail you.
Prayer: Father, remind us that the way to You is through faith and repentance. Amen.
Forward this devotional Share this devotional on Facebook Like PresbyCan on Facebook
Thursday, March 27, 2025 – In Zambia — Choma Youth Centre — God continues to bring youth to the centre. We have up to 30 youth for daily programmes but have had about 200 pass through in 2024. We started having street kids join for our sports programme; a while ago, 5 gave their
lives to Christ! Pray we will know how to walk alongside them.
Thank you for your continued prayers!: "Update March 27, 2025: Please continue to pray for Rick that he will have patience and hope after..." 
friend: "Update March 21, 2025; Please continue to pray for Hilde who has had dizziness for many months..." 
Although PresbyCan doesn't have a mobile app, you can still have a PresbyCan icon on your mobile phone home screen. 
With thanks.
Thanks Martin.
Another excellent devotional. Thank you!
Amen and amen, Martin. Thanks for sharing this encouraging devotional with us. Blessings.
Thanks, Martin, for another of your special devotionals. Yes, repentance and faith are definitely priorities as we go forward in our daily lives.
Blessings for these relevant writings you do.
Thank you! He told her to go in peace. So many times Christians will talk about the woman caught in adultery and say, yes but then he told her to go and sin no more.
I’m glad to have a different example for them.
Good morning, Martin,
Thank you for this reminder that it is a relationship with Jesus that is everything! How I pray more people would realize that.
God bless.
Good morning, Martin,
Definitely I believe in the “philosophy Jesus’ style” and trust in the Lord that He is always there for me. Thanks for sharing your thoughts which help all of us figuring out who God really wants us to be. Blessings.
Good morning, Martin,
Lovely reflection on how your home life shaped your faith. Clear message on the Luke passage about confession and forgiveness.
Thanks for your writing.
Blessings this day.
Beautiful!! I finally ‘met’ Jesus and entered that awesome relationship, through love – then came that life giving assurance that I was loved – then came the realization of my sins – then the fact that HE still loved me. My most remarkable response was amazing RELIEF. That’s when I wanted to get ‘clean’ and entered a phase of guilt and sorrow and repentance, with a great deal of transformation and faith and joy; but the guilt lasted nearly 30 years. One day I decided to be baptized by immersion in a different church, against the theology of my Church. That was a turning point, but the guilt and self-loathing took another 10 years or so. Working out one’s ‘salvation’ (with fear and trembling) seems to take the rest of our lives!! It’s quite unnerving to recognize that as parents, we have such long-term effects on our children. Thank God, the LORD can work us, and our children, through ALL of our parenting ‘errors one omissions’.
Your story is very touching Martin – and SO VERY TRUE!! In my own experience, obedience follows naturally after that wonderful KNOWING that God loves us in spite of ALL of our faults, failures, ignorance, and weaknesses. Your story smoothed out some of the wrinkles in my own understanding – even at 80 years old!! As always, thank you for sharing yourself. God bless.
Thank you for a beautiful message of Hope and Comfort.
Good evening, Martin,
I have just finished reading your devotional for today. I do believe you were speaking to me. I may also say that I am a Martha not a Mary… no matter how hard I might try to be otherwise.