NIV 365 / Undeserved

The NIV 365-Day Devotional Reading Plan

Day 251 of 365 Undeserved I am sinful, yet God calls me righteous. Is there anything I can do to thank him? Read One day a Pharisee asked Jesus to come to his house to eat. "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. 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' " (Luke 7:37 - 39). The incredible thing is that Jesus did know what kind of woman she was. But that didn't stop him from loving her. Think Like the woman, we all stand before Jesus with a spiritual rap sheet that is miles long. At this very moment, he sees every area of our lives that needs refining. Yet despite our sin, he loves us anyway. Dearly. That doesn't make sense. But God's love doesn't make sense. We can't figure it out. Live Let grace amaze you. Ponder it. Dwell on it. Feel the intensity of God's love behind it. The woman had it right. She was well aware of her sinful past - she had lived it. And when she found the Savior who knew her completely and still offered acceptance and forgiveness, she could do nothing else but fall on her knees and pour out her praise on him. When your messiness runs into Jesus' perfection and you find him there loving you, be like the woman with the alabaster jar. Just love him. Pour out your praise; drench him in worship. Stand in awe of the One who gave it all. He is worthy of every ounce of your praise. Taken from The Great Rescue Bible Luke 7:37-39 Luke 7:37-39 KJV 37 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, 38 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. 39 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.