Today's Passage - Luke 7:36-43

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Luke 7:36-43   "When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and 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.'  Jesus answered him, 'Simon, I have something to tell you.'  'Tell me, teacher,' he said.  'Two men owed money to a certain moneylender.  One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  Neither of them had the money to pay the moneylender back, so the moneylender canceled the debts of both.  Now which of them will love him more?'  Simon replied, 'I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." "You have judged correctly,' Jesus said."   We usually have a specific purpose when we treat others to feasts.  When Simon saw this woman came to his feast uninvited, he was not too happy, especially because she was also a sinful woman.  He didn't get mad at her because Jesus was there and he had to act spiritual.  That's often the way we are as well; we have similar attitude towards others, and instead of staying quiet we may start saying words of judgment.   A person who is self-righteous can easily fall into the trap of criticizing others and lifting his own stature.  On the contrary, the woman in sin was truly humble, and she longed for receiving grace from Jesus.  That's why Jesus asked Simon what happened when one person owes fifty denarii and the other owes five hundred, but both of them cannot pay back.  In other word, neither of them could meet God's standard.  Simon the Pharisee felt that he sinned less, but he was still a sinner.  The woman seemed to be more sinful from human perspective, but before God she's just another sinner.  When the moneylender cancelled their debt, the one who owed more actually enjoyed more grace, and he will love the moneylender more.   May the Spirit of God help us to see that before God we are mere sinners.  Let us stop criticizing others and lifting our own stature, but come humbly before God and look upon God's grace.  We need to be willing to receive the grace of forgiveness and also share this grace with those around us.  May the grace of true forgiveness flow out from our life right now.                Pray with Pastor Tong           Dear Lord, I thank you because you are the Lord who forgives, and you have mercy on us.  You want us to manifest your mercy and forgiveness in our life.  Even though we cannot do it by own strength, we can depend on your strength and love.  Please come and fill us again, so that in our daily life we may manifest your grace and mercy.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!