The Mind Reader

Luke 7:40a – Then Jesus answered his thoughts. "Simon," he said to the Pharisee, "I have something to say to you." (NLT)

"You're in a 'spazzy' mood today. I'm sure you'll break something." The mind reader had struck again.

Let me clarify. I've never visited a mind reader, but I live with one. My wife and I have an uncanny ability to read each other's minds, and she was doing it again. She claims that it's because we're soulmates. Maybe she's right. I suppose that it comes from living together, spending quality time with each other, having similar likes and dislikes, and reaching for the same goals. When significant decisions approach, I know her answer, and she knows mine — even though we discuss the matter to make sure. Sometimes, it's freaky to think that someone else knows what I'm thinking.

I suppose that Simon the Pharisee felt the same. He had invited Jesus to his religious party. But Simon didn't invite the sinful woman who showed up, too. Why he didn't ask her to leave is a mystery.

As Simon watched the woman cry over Jesus' feet and anoint them with perfume, he assumed that the long-awaited Messiah would never allow a sinful woman like this to touch Him, so he concluded that Jesus couldn't be the expected One. Simon didn't know it, but Jesus read his thoughts — and then answered them with a story of two debtors who had their debts forgiven.

Knowing that Jesus can read our thoughts is comforting — yet disturbing. Comforting, because sometimes our situations are such that we can't adequately express what we want to say. The grief slices too deeply. The pain is almost unbearable. We can't put into words what we want to say. God assures us that we don't have to. Paul wrote, "But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words." (Romans 8:26b NLT)

Disturbing, because there are those times when I shudder to realize that Jesus knows what I'm thinking, times when my mind has wandered into areas it has no business travelling, times when I'm not thinking about things that are true, honourable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8) Jesus can help to reorient the direction of our minds as well — onto healthier turf.

Don't be afraid to let Jesus read your mind. Only good can come from it.

Prayer: Father, guide me to think on those things that honour Your name and build me up spiritually. Amen.