Faith in God

Ezra 1; Psalm 84; Psalm 85; Luke 7

Luke 7:36Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37When 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, 38and 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.

39When 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."

40Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."
"Tell me, teacher," he said.

41"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,^[d] and the other fifty. 42Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"

43Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."
"You have judged correctly," Jesus said.

44Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

48Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

49The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"

50Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Jesus was able to recognize how much this "sinful woman" loved Him. He forgave her sins even in knowing the depths of her many sins. He saw how much faith she had in Him and He pardons her many sins. Jesus also states that to the extent we love is the extent our sins will be forgiven.

I am a sinner. We are sinners. We must have faith in the abilities of God. We must remember that it is because of the grace of God that our sins can be forgiven and our sinful past can be pardoned. I will remember that it is by our faith we are saved.

Lord Jesus,
Thank you for your grace. Thank you for forgiving my sins. I love You for that. You remind me consistently that it is by my faith that I am saved. Lord, You not only see the sins I have committed, You chose to forgive and forget those sins. I love You with all my heart.
Amen