For I Am A Sinner

For she is a sinner…Luke 7:39

Throughout the entire Bible, we read of the grace and mercy of our Lord on the people of this world.

In the Old Testament, there is a reoccurring theme where His people turn away from Him, fall into evil and live in sin, even worship idols, but God is still faithful to forgive. He desires their devotion and a relationship with them once they have returned unto Him.

In the New Testament, we are given instances where Jesus, Himself, was in the presence of the best of men and the worst of sinners, yet welcomed them all “home.” He offered redemption, forgiveness and a new life to any and all who accept it. There is none righteous (Romans 3:10)…For all have sinned and come short…(Romans 3:23).

For there is no respect of persons with God (Romans 2:11). But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons (Colossians 3:25).

In the Father’s eyes, we are all the same. We all sin. We are all in need of forgiveness. There is no level placed on sin. There is no criterion to meet in order to qualify for His forgiveness. He offers the opportunity to any and all that humbly fall at his feet and offer their sins to Him, call out to Him for forgiveness and choose to move forward leaving a sinful life behind.

“Jesus was known for His association with sinners. But He also extends Himself to the well-to-do, who stand in the same need of salvation.”

So many examples were left for us in scripture, but I was led to one in particular while studying. In Luke chapter 7, we find Jesus being invited to dine with a Pharisee, a man of influence, of good rapport and accepted by society. The man had pride in himself and his position in the world. You might say that he held himself in pretty high esteem. Let us go to the Word…

——And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat. 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, 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 fee, and anointed them with the ointment. 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 touchest him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one he owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou has rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

——Luke 7:36-50

I must admit to you that as I read through these scriptures and then as I typed them and the thoughts of this devotional, I was brought to tears and filled with such overwhelming peace and joy. I felt as if I were sitting right there. I put myself in the position of that woman.

She knew who the Savior was. She came to meet Him that day. She was prepared to bring her sins, those exposed for the public and those hidden, for even the Father knew of those secrets within. She came and laid it all down at the Savior’s feet. She humbled herself to the point of complete shame and literally fell at the feet of Jesus. For she knew that there, and only there, would she find complete forgiveness, restoration, and peace.

At that moment, she didn’t care that the judgmental eyes of the Pharisee were on her and that he condemned the Father for allowing such an absurd act. Instead, she poured out her tears upon Jesus’ feet and wiped away the dust and the filth that His feet had gathered on His journey. What a beautiful picture drawn here for us! Just as she washed away the dirt from His feet, in the same moment, He was washing away the sins from her heart!

How often do we sit in the place of the Pharisee and question the sin of others? How often do we condemn the acts of the sinner and even the redeemed sinner who has sat at Jesus’ feet? How many times have we placed ourselves above others and disregarded our own shortcomings?

Now, consider this…how often do we fall at Jesus’ feet? Have we truly poured out our hearts and even our literal tears, placing our sins at the foot of the cross? Have we humbled ourselves enough to forget our place in this world and to realize that we all need forgiveness for the ways we fail our Father daily?

For she is a sinner…oh how I pray that these words do not creep from our lips.

Instead we should only utter, “for I am a sinner.”

I do not profess this to justify my sins, but to declare that I am justified by my Savior.

Titus 3:1-7 reads, “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Even the righteous must realize their need for the Redeemer. We ALL need Jesus!

Praise God for HIS words in verse 48, “Thy sins are forgiven.” AMEN! Jesus Christ in the presence of scoffers and judges still proclaimed this child forgiven!

His blood for her sins, for my sins, for your sins.

My prayer today is that we find ourselves not in the position of the Pharisee, but as the sinner. I pray that we shed this coat of entitlement, this declaration of importance, this feeling of stature, this reputation of righteousness, and realize that we are all as the dirt she wiped away from the Lord’s feet that day.

I pray that we will all fall at the feet of Jesus crying out in humility to the amazing grace He offers and lay our faults, our failures, our judgments, OUR SINS, lay them ALL down.

I pray that we will walk in a path of redemption and that we will choose to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord; that we will shine His light onto others and extend a hand of kindness and love. Cry out to Jesus today. Allow Him to wipe away your tears and to start you on a new path totally surrendered to Him!

May your cup runneth over.