The Worship of Forgiven People

            The worship of forgiven people is dramatically different than those who haven’t yet experienced God’s forgiveness.  Forgiven people are able to enjoy the abundant life that Jesus came to provide and their devotion to God shows their gratitude. 

            An incident from Jesus’ ministry beautifully illustrates this (see Luke 7:36-50).  It takes place in the house of a Pharisee named Simon who has invited Jesus and his disciples home for a meal.  Picture yourself as one of the guests at this party.  The table is full of the choicest foods and drinks.  Everyone is happy.  The conversation is informal and mixed with periods of friendly laughter.  Every so often there is a question for Jesus and a hush falls over the room as he answers in a gentle voice.

            Suddenly, everyone’s attention is drawn to a lonely figure slowly making her way toward Jesus!  From the smell of her perfume and the way she is dressed it is obvious that she is one of the prostitutes from town.  In horror and embarrassment you check the reaction of the host and notice that he is shocked, yet is watching to see how this self-proclaimed “expert of the law” will respond to her.  The only sound in the room is that of her crying.  Every eye is fixed on the two of them as she washes his feet with her tears, dries them with her hair and anoints them with her expensive perfume. 

            Then Jesus speaks and teaches the beauty of forgiveness with a parable.  Now you realize what has just taken place here.  This is not a woman who has come to Him with a request, but to say “Thank you” for healing her soul.  She was so overwhelmed with emotion that she couldn’t even speak.  Lovingly, He reassured her that her faith had brought her forgiveness. 

            This is a perfect description of how forgiven people act.

            Without a word, this “sinner” taught a room-full of religious “experts” how it feels to be forgiven.  They didn’t act the way she did because they had not yet come to realize their own need to be forgiven; they hadn’t yet come to know The Savior (but she had). 

            Have you allowed yourself to express your true feelings to God regardless of what others around you think?  Take stock of the blessings God has bestowed upon you; build the relationship He created you to share with Him; and feel free to show your gratitude for the forgiveness you have received.

Doug