Hi church,
I would like to share with you about one of my favourite people from the Bible. She doesn’t have a name. She is merely known as a sinful woman. Rather than being defined by her sin, though, she is known for the outpouring of her worship. From this single act she is remembered for, we can learn so much and be so impacted by her life, even 2,000 years later.
The account of this frankly beautiful moment is found in Luke 7:36-50. Jesus is reclining in his friend’s house. Eating. This woman hears that Jesus is in the town and brings her alabaster jar of perfume and proceeds to wash the feet of Jesus with her tears, dry them with her hair, and then pour her perfume on his feet. Wow!
Here are some takeaway thoughts about this I want to share.
She came prepared to worship Jesus. She also brought her jar of perfume, which isn’t something she would have carried around in her handbag. She brought this with a purpose. How often do we turn up to worship Jesus at church having prepared ourselves? Also, if we’re called to live lives poured out in worship, how do we prepare ourselves every day for this?
She knew what she was known for. This woman knew she was known as a sinful woman. She would have been under no illusions. She would have heard the whispers of others as she passed by. I don’t know about you, but sometimes when we have been saved and redeemed by Christ, it is possible to become complacent of this and forget what we have been saved and redeemed from. While we can use phrases like, ‘He lifted me from the miry clay,’ we can forget just how low and dirty we were in that clay.
Psalms 103:2 (NLT): ‘Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me.’
Friends, let’s remember how far Jesus has brought us and allow that to be the driving force of us living a life poured out in worship to Him. This woman couldn’t stop herself from worshipping Jesus, despite knowing what others would think, and in spite of, probably, wondering what Jesus would think. Despite her sinfulness. Despite the occasion not being appropriate. This sinful woman was so overcome with worship that she couldn’t hold back from honouring Jesus.
Let us allow ourselves to let go and worship Jesus in spirit and in truth. Let us be even more undignified than this. Sometimes, we can get so caught up in what others may think or believe that we are not good enough. If we can focus on Jesus, though, as this sinful woman did, and worship Him, then she teaches us that this can become what defines us – WHO we worship, not what we’ve done or what others say.
There are so many things to learn from this one woman. Please read the full account and ask God to show you what else you can take away from this beautiful moment.
Let’s pray: Father, thank You for teaching us from the life of a sinful woman. Thank You that Jesus was not interested in her sin at that moment but in her faith. Help us to prepare ourselves to worship You in every step – not just during Sunday praise and worship, but every moment of every day. Let us not forget what You have done for us, Jesus, and, as a response, allow us to put all other things aside so that we cannot help but worship You. We love You, Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Have a great day, everyone, and remember my friend, the sinful woman, with her alabaster jar today.
Paula Dring.
