Been Walked On?

And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. 

 (Luke 11:39)

Some people can tolerate them, some cannot. I suppose it depends on the way you were raised, or how detailed you are as a person. What I'm talking about is dirty carpets, filthy rugs- you know, the kind where you take one look and feel like asking; "hey, ever hear about the invention of the vacuum?"

For a short time in my life I worked for a carpet cleaning company, and believe me- I have seen it all. I have spot treated things that would frighten a Marine, and I've also been called out to clean up cracker crumbs in million dollar homes.

Even though I had a wide variety of experiences, there was one truth that tied it all together: a good cleaning can make all the difference. After a carpet becomes dirt free, it changes the whole appearance of a room. It doesn't matter if that rug was the victim of toddlers, cats, and pasta sauce or just simple little crayon marks: either way it made everything around it look better.

Could I make a comparison to Christ here? Imagine your life being like a carpet. Not that you exist to be walked on, though I'm sure you have felt like that! What I mean is that your existence has a fabric of sorts that tends to soak up the world around it. When you were saved, you were spotless and pristine; unfortunately things didn't stay that way. You've let people and circumstances soil the material of your walk with Christ.

Maybe it was that secret sin that you have hidden, but you are starting to realize that it is as obvious to God as a Kool-Aid spill on a white Berber.

Or perhaps people really have left ugly footprints all over your life- but was it you who opened the door in the first place?

Then there are marks left by uninvited guests who could not care less about the feelings of others.

All these things add up over time and your life continues to get soiled, and though it might not be as obvious to you- it makes everything around you ugly. You feel distant from God, you can't seem to quit fighting with your family and friends, and your last 2000 prayers have been 'bless this food to your bodies'. Guess what- you need a carpet cleaner!

So which type of person are you? There are those who just let it go because they are too prideful to let Jesus do the dirty work of removing the filth of your sin. If this is you- let me remind you of another person who had this attitude as well- the Apostle Peter:

Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. (John 13:8)

Get the point? Jesus wants you to be a part of what He is doing- but He can't work with filthy rugs! Remember that all it takes is one heartfelt prayer on your part, and Jesus will make you clean. It doesn't matter what you have spilled, or who has treaded over your territory- Jesus can wipe away every stain. Why not put in a call to heaven right now and become as spotless as the day you were saved? Everything around you will be glad you did!

Questions:

1. In what kind of shape are the 'carpets' of your life?
2. How long has it been since you spent time in confession?
3. How has this analogy helped you understand forgiveness?

Been Chopping Too Hard?

One man challenged another to an all-day wood chopping contest.

The challenger worked very hard, stopping only for a brief lunch break. The other man had a leisurely lunch and took several breaks during the day. At the end of the day, the challenger was surprised and annoyed to find that the other fellow had chopped substantially more wood than he had.

"I don't get it," he said. "Every time I checked, you were taking a rest, yet you chopped more wood than I did."

"But you didn't notice," said the winning woodsman, "that I was sharpening my ax when I sat down to rest."

(Source unknown)

If you're like me, sometimes it seems that dealing with the world is like chopping wood. It's hard work, it takes time and concentration, and in the end you never get as far as you thought you would. Then on top of that, there never seems to be time to rest. Our to-do-list, deadlines, relationships, and multiple activities keep us on a mad dash that would make a rabbit tired. We rush out of bed and play slave to the schedule until we drop back into a restless slumber.

In other words, our axes are getting dull. Without any time for sharpening, we accomplish less and less with the same effort, until soon we just get used to the idea that we can't cut it like we used too.

But then there are other believers who seem to have found some kind of 'secret'. They seem content with their lives, they handle things well, and they rarely seemed stressed out.

Guess what? I'll let you in on their secret.

Ready?

The secret is that there is no secret. In fact it's spelled out in God's word. For example:

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. (Psalm 37:7) 

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.  (Psalm 46:10) 

 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.  (Luke 5:16)

These folks have simply decided to obey God, and not miss the forest for the trees...so to speak. They take time out to sharpen the axe, which is why they are skilled at chopping through life the way God intended.

Perhaps you have been swinging your axe a little too long, and you need a rest. Not just any rest, but one with a purpose. In order to accomplish this, you will need to do five things:

1. Get alone. I mean really alone. No cell phone, no pager, as remote as possible.
2. Bring a Bible. Focus on a few select passages of Scripture like the Psalms or the Gospels.
3. Pray. Not the standard 'bless this food/help me I've got a test' type prayer, but the 'pouring out your heart' before God type. Act like you're talking to your best friend in the whole world, because you are.
4. Listen. When was the last time you just sat in silence and listened for God? My thought is, if Jesus needed to do it- you think we might need it too?
5. Worship. Praising God is a sure-fire way to get the blade razor-sharp, because it brings us to the place where we remember that God is God and we are not.

Of course, this is just my suggestion. The main point here is to take a time out, because if you don't, you could soon be choppin' up the wrong tree...or something like that.

Questions:

1. When was the last time you really got alone with God?
2. Why do you think Jesus needed to 'sharpen the axe'?
3. How would your life change if you regularly applied the 5 suggestions listed above?

Bad Company

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.  (I Corinthians 15:33)

They influence your speech, dress, and mannerisms. They are your constant mirrors. They are in your address book and in your phone 's speed dial. They have a firm grip on your heartstrings, and oftentimes they are the difference between success and failure in the Christian life. Good ones can nudge you to victory. Bad ones can drag you to defeat. What are they? You guessed it...friends!

The bottom line is that the type of friends who form your inner circle will most likely determine how faithfully you serve Christ, and whether or not you make a spiritual difference on your campus. When Paul wrote today's verse: "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. " - he was addressing a friendship situation.

The Christians at Corinth had friends who basically denied the resurrection. In other words, their main goal in life was to try and find happiness through partying, because there would be no judgment day. So these believers had friends who were pulling them in the wrong direction. My guess is that those Christians thought that they were strong enough in their faith to resist the bad influences of their friends.

Paul says- I don't think so...

So what about it? Are you being misled? Do you have as your best friends those who have Jesus as their best friend? If not, it's just a matter of time before your character is corrupted with the virus of spiritual compromise.

I can't help but think of Ronnie. We went to school together all through Jr. High and High School. In fact, Ronnie helped lead me to faith in Christ as my Savior. We held each other accountable and witnessed to our unsaved friends. But as high school continued, Ronnie began to make other alliances. More and more of his friends were less and less concerned about Christ. Pretty soon his closest friends were absolutely unconcerned about the Lord, and positively concerned about their own happiness before anything. Bit by bit Ronnie got his eyes off the bull's eye of serving Christ.

There came a time when I had to choose between my friendship with Ronnie, and my allegiance to Christ- and guess what? Rock breaks scissors: Jesus wins. Sound judgmental? Perhaps, but the judgment was more on myself than on Ronnie, because I knew that eventually I would shipwreck my faith if I stayed on course with that friendship. Sound difficult? Absolutely, breaking off a close friendship is like having surgery. Yet if you don't go through with that spiritual operation, you could lose your spiritual life.

By the grace of God, when I graduated my eyes were set on entering the ministry, and today I serve the King of Kings. By the time Ronnie graduated he was just like his closest friends...spiritually weak and disinterested. To this day, 18 years later, Ronnie is totally unconcerned about following Jesus, and completely miserable.

In the words of one pastor: "If you drop a white glove in the mud...the mud doesn't become 'glovey'...the glove becomes muddy." This is especially true in relationships. Christian teens that continue with godless friendships will themselves become godless.

Maybe you need to make some decisions right now about your inner circle of friends. Don't put it off! The whole direction of your spiritual life hangs in the balance...

Questions:

1. On a scale of 1-10 (1=bad, 10=good), what kind of influence do your friends have on your spiritual life?
2. Do you really think that "bad company corrupts good character?"
3. If your closest friends were put on trial for being Christians- would they be convicted? Would you?

Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down

 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.  John 10:9-11

Satan is a liar.

Somehow he has managed to convince more than 5000 teenagers each year that it would be better to end their lives than to find hope and press on. He also whispers into the ears of another 400,000 students annually, persuading them to attempt suicide.

Satan is a thief.

Jesus wasn't kidding when he said that the "thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy...". The devil wants to steal your heart, kill your joy, and destroy your hope. He tells you that happiness can be found through money, success, and self-gratification. Just like drinking seawater, he gives you a temporary feeling of satisfaction from these things, but they only leave you thirstier than you were before.

Jesus is the Truth.

He is the Living Water. If you have fallen into any kind of depression, it may be because you are trying to live without Him. No amount of money, success, or human love can quench the thirst of a life-parched soul. The brilliant physicist Robert Oppenheimer, for example, considered his life a failure. When reminded of his successes--such as directing the Los Alamos Project that produced the atomic bomb--he replied, "They leave on the tongue only the taste of ashes."

How does life taste to you these days? If it has lost some of its flavor, perhaps you are in one of three categories.

1. You may be feeling spiritually thirsty, and you don't have God in your life. In that case, you can begin a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ right this moment and let Him fill that emptiness.
2. You may be feeling that life is meaningless even though you have a personal relationship with Christ. Believing the lies of Satan can create that feeling. You need to go to God daily, even hourly and commit your circumstances and feelings to Him. Also, you must orient your life around serving Christ first, and then God will bring you-not the seawater of happiness- but the Living Water of joy. Take action now!
3. Perhaps you've overcome the problem of hopelessness, leading you to understand the feeling of fulfillment that comes from knowing God personally and living in fellowship with Him. If so, you need to share that good news with your friends. Encourage them by word and by deed to place their trust in Christ as their Savior before it's too late. Chances are, they're getting a little tired of the taste of ashes.

Questions:

1. What things are in your life that taste like "ashes"?
2. What changes can you make to dig your well deeper in your relationship with Christ?
3. Do you have a friend who needs to hear about Christ?
4. What can you do about it this week?

Are You in the Lord's Army?

I may never march in the infantry,
Ride in the cavalry,
Shoot the artillery.
I may never zoom o'er the enemy,
But I'm in the Lord's army. Yes, sir! I'm in the Lord's army. Yes, sir!
I'm in the Lord's army. Yes, sir!

I may never march in the infantry,
Ride in the cavalry,
Shoot the artillery.
I may never zoom o'er the enemy,
But I'm in the Lord's army. Yes, sir!

Remember that one? It was always one of my favorites. In fact, I wish the 'grown-up' church service would have it as a worship song occasionally - just to remind us of something very important:

We are in the Lord's Army

Sure, it's a kids' song- but it has an adult message that is too easily neglected and too often forgotten. When you're a child, it's fun to think about being in the service of the Captain of our salvation...oh but then at some point we get 'mature', which often translates into 'chicken'.

So the issue at hand is: are you involved in the fight? Or perhaps at some point you were taken prisoner by the enemy. If you are a captive, you might not even know it- so let me give you a few characteristics of spiritual P.O.W.'s.

• They think that many Christians are just too 'radical' for Jesus. After all, they should settle down and try not to 'offend' people too much or too often.
• They have been led to believe that the early fire they had for Christ was just a temporary spiritual high, but that kind of feeling will probably never come back.
• They are trapped in the rut of going through the motions of church, Bible reading, and prayer...almost as if they are doing it out of duty instead of desire.
• They try to witness to others through actions only, thinking that people will understand the gospel without ever being told.

If any of these describe you, the great news is that you hold a 'get out of jail free' card right in your hands! Satan only has as much authority as you give him, so take it back, recommit your life, and go to battle!

Perhaps the old song mentioned above isn't quite enough to get you motivated anymore. If so, allow me to share a somewhat updated version that describes your position more specifically:

I am a Soldier
Author Unknown

I am a soldier, a prayer warrior, of the army of my God.
The Lord Jesus Christ is my Commanding Officer.
The Holy Bible is my code of conduct.
Faith, Prayer and the Word are my weapons of warfare.

I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience,
tried by adversity, and tested by fire.

I am a volunteer in this army, and I am enlisted for eternity.
I will either retire in this army at the Rapture or die in this Army;
but I will not get out, sell out, be talked out.
I am faithful, capable, and dependable.

If my God needs me, I am there.

I am a soldier, a prayer warrior. I am not a baby.
I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up, pumped up, picked up, or pepped up.

I am a soldier, a prayer warrior.
No one has to call me, remind me, write me, visit me, entice me, or lure me.

I am a solider, a prayer warrior. I am not a wimp.
I am in place, saluting my King, obeying His orders, praising His name
and building His Kingdom!

I am a soldier, a prayer warrior.
No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy, or give me handouts.
I do not need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for, or catered to.

I am committed.
I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around.
I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside.
I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit.

Questions:

1. Are you more passionate about the Lord and His cause than anything else? Why or why not?
2. Would Satan describe you as a soldier or a prisoner?
3. What is the first thing you need to do to get back in the battle?

Memory Verse:

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.  (II Timothy 2:3-4)

Are You A BB Head?

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18)

I once heard a story about a startling exhibit in Del Mar, California. A man took a glass beaker which had a small neck, but was enlarged to about seven inches in diameter below the neck. The beaker would hold about a quart.

The demonstrator used the glass beaker as a hammer to drive a spike into a wooden plank. The glass was so well tempered that the beaker did not break.

The man then took a small steel marble or bearing the size of a pea, and holding it at the neck of the beaker, dropped it inside. When it struck the bottom the glass was shattered and the beaker was broken from within.

Have you ever thought of your church/youth group as a beaker? It may have a label on it that reads Methodist, Presbyterian, Charismatic, Baptist, Lutheran, or a hundred others. Or it may have a general tag on it that says 'community church' or 'fellowship'- but can you guess what they all have in common with the beaker mentioned in the story above?

"Is it that all churches are like glass and therefore transparent to the outside world?"

That's a great guess, and in fact I agree- we shouldn't fool ourselves into thinking that the non-Christian world isn't watching us as closely as a lion waiting to pounce on his prey at the first opportunity...but that's not what I'm looking for.

"Is it that the beaker is designed to be filled in order to be useful, therefore we should pray for our church to be filled with the Spirit?"

Again, spectacular speculation, and we should definitely beg the Holy Spirit to sweep through our ministries like a level 5 tornado in Kansas...but that's still not it.

"Is it that glass needs to be cleaned, therefore we should look for some holy Windex® to clean off the fingerprints of sin?"

Oh forget it. I'll get to the point!

As you read in the verse above, Jesus promised the He would build His church, "and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18). In other words, no outside opposition-not even hell itself- would ever be able to break down the strategy of the Savior. So just like the beaker, we may look fragile- but in the hands of the Almighty we can deliver a death blow to the 'spike' of sin on this earth.

By the same token, though, all it takes is some BB head to shatter the structure from the inside! Maybe that's why the Bible warns again and again of malcontent mischief makers that putrefy the pews. Satan doesn't have to attack from the outside to destroy a ministry; he just needs to infuse a few flibbertigibbets into God's family.

Perhaps it is time for us to encourage the marbles in our midst to move on before more damage is done.

Can you see them rolling around your building? If not, let me give you a few characteristics.

• They gossip maliciously and call it 'prayer requests' or 'sharing concerns'
• They complain more than they praise
• They go to church to 'get something out of it'
• They refuse to do 'lowly' work like fold up chairs or clean-up
• They refuse to forgive
• They can easily spot the splinter in others and miss their own personal plank (Matthew 7)
• They do not play well with others
• They go out of their way to be applauded, praised, and popularized in public places

On and on and on the list goes- but I think you should have a pretty good idea by now of the kind of folks that break the beakers. So this week, take an inventory first of yourself- then of others- and pray about how you can do your part to keep the integrity of your church as strong as God intends it to be. Walk away from gossip, confront negativity on the spot, worship in Spirit and truth, and pray for unity in your group- because God is definitely not into the game of marbles!

Questions:

1. Are you a part of the glass, or rolling with the marbles?
2. How can you help keep the 'beaker' strong?
3. What are some of the ways you are contributing to the mission of the church?

American Idolater

I think it's official now- if not obvious at the very least. We are living in one of the most affluent cultures in the history of the world. Americans these days love to saunter in their sumptuous surroundings and luxuriate in our lavish lifestyles. And why not? We work hard. Scrimp and save. Plan and produce. So what's the big deal?

In a word: deception. Somewhere along the way we have believed the lie that possessions can make us happy. When that happens, we become nothing short of idolaters who worship at the shrine of shekels. We bow to the almighty dollar instead of the Almighty Himself.

Am I telling you how to spend your money? No... that's pretty much between you and God. But remember that He had more than a few things to say about the subject. Let's review a few of those insights- shall we?

Looking at his disciples, Jesus said:

And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. (Mark 10:23-25) 

 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? (Luke 16:11) 

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Matthew 6:24) 

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (I Timothy 6:10)

And that's just a few. Did you know that the Bible has 500 verses about prayer, close to 500 verses that deal with faith, and over 2,000 verses that deal with how we acquire our money and possessions?

Perhaps now is a good time to re-evaluate your priorities, and especially how big a role bucks play in your view of happiness and fulfillment.

To help with that process, here is a great story that will help get you started:

The Rich Family in Church
By Eddie Ogan

I'll never forget Easter 1946. I was 14, my little sister Ocy was 12, and my older sister Darlene 16. We lived at home with our mother, and the four of us knew what it was to do without many things. My dad had died five years before, leaving Mom with seven school kids to raise and no money.

By 1946 my older sisters were married and my brothers had left home. A month before Easter the pastor of our church announced that a special Easter offering would be taken to help a poor family. He asked everyone to save and give sacrificially.

When we got home, we talked about what we could do. We decided to buy 50 pounds of potatoes and live on them for a month. This would allow us to save $20 of our grocery money for the offering. When we thought that if we kept our electric lights turned out as much as possible and didn't listen to the radio, we'd save money on that month's electric bill. Darlene got as many house and yard cleaning jobs as possible, and both of us babysat for everyone we could. For 15 cents we could buy enough cotton loops to make three pot holders to sell for $1.

We made $20 on pot holders. That month was one of the best of our lives.

Every day we counted the money to see how much we had saved. At night we'd sit in the dark and talk about how the poor family was going to enjoy having the money the church would give them. We had about 80 people in church, so figured that whatever amount of money we had to give, the offering would surely be 20 times that much. After all, every Sunday the pastor had reminded everyone to save for the sacrificial offering.

The day before Easter, Ocy and I walked to the grocery store and got the manager to give us three crisp $20 bills and one $10 bill for all our change.

We ran all the way home to show Mom and Darlene. We had never had so much money before.

That night we were so excited we could hardly sleep. We didn't care that we wouldn't have new clothes for Easter; we had $70 for the sacrificial offering.

We could hardly wait to get to church! On Sunday morning, rain was pouring. We didn't own an umbrella, and the church was over a mile from our home, but it didn't seem to matter how wet we got. Darlene had cardboard in her shoes to fill the holes. The cardboard came apart, and her feet got wet.

But we sat in church proudly. I heard some teenagers talking about the Smith girls having on their old dresses. I looked at them in their new clothes, and I felt rich.

When the sacrificial offering was taken, we were sitting on the second row from the front. Mom put in the $10 bill, and each of us kids put in a $20.

As we walked home after church, we sang all the way. At lunch Mom had a surprise for us. She had bought a dozen eggs, and we had boiled Easter eggs with our fried potatoes! Late that afternoon the minister drove up in his car. Mom went to the door, talked with him for a moment, and then came back with an envelope in her hand. We asked what it was, but she didn't say a word. She opened the envelope and out fell a bunch of money. There were three crisp $20 bills, one $10 and seventeen $1 bills.

Mom put the money back in the envelope. We didn't talk, just sat and stared at the floor. We had gone from feeling like millionaires to feeling like poor white trash. We kids had such a happy life that we felt sorry for anyone who didn't have our Mom and Dad for parents and a house full of brothers and sisters and other kids visiting constantly. We thought it was fun to share silverware and see whether we got the spoon or the fork that night.

We had two knifes that we passed around to whoever needed them. I knew we didn't have a lot of things that other people had, but I'd never thought we were poor.

That Easter day I found out we were. The minister had brought us the money for the poor family, so we must be poor. I didn't like being poor. I looked at my dress and worn-out shoes and felt so ashamed--I didn't even want to go back to church. Everyone there probably already knew we were poor!

I thought about school. I was in the ninth grade and at the top of my class of over 100 students. I wondered if the kids at school knew that we were poor. I decided that I could quit school since I had finished the eighth grade. That was all the law required at that time. We sat in silence for a long time. Then it got dark, and we went to bed. All that week, we girls went to school and came home, and no one talked much. Finally on Saturday, Mom asked us what we wanted to do with the money. What did poor people do with money? We didn't know. We'd never known we were poor. We didn't want to go to church on Sunday, but Mom said we had to. Although it was a sunny day, we didn't talk on the way.

Mom started to sing, but no one joined in and she only sang one verse. At church we had a missionary speaker. He talked about how churches in Africa made buildings out of sun dried bricks, but they needed money to buy roofs. He said $100 would put a roof on a church. The minister said, "Can't we all sacrifice to help these poor people?" We looked at each other and smiled for the first time in a week.

Mom reached into her purse and pulled out the envelope. She passed it to Darlene. Darlene gave it to me, and I handed it to Ocy. Ocy put it in the offering.

When the offering was counted, the minister announced that it was a little over $100. The missionary was excited. He hadn't expected such a large offering from our small church. He said, "You must have some rich people in this church."

Suddenly it struck us! We had given $87 of that "little over $100."

We were the rich family in the church! Hadn't the missionary said so? From that day on I've never been poor again. I've always remembered how rich I am because I have Jesus!

Questions:

1. How do you define 'rich' and 'poor'?
2. How are you investing your possessions in the Kingdom?
3. What is one change you need to make in your life as a result of reading that story?

Memory Verse:

 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. (Philippians 4:12)

Amazing Grace

36 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.37 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,38 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 feet, and anointed them with the ointment.39 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 toucheth him: for she is a sinner.40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.44 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.45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.47 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.48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. (Luke 7:36-50)

O.K., pop quiz time: to which character in this story do you most relate?

1. Jesus- because I never play favorites with people, and I especially like it when social outcasts come up to me in public and pour out their affection.
2. Simon- because I like to be seen with the popular people of the day, even if I don't care about them. Also, I especially get upset when those popular people (who are making me look good) do something embarrassing in public, or when some 'loser' gets all the attention.
3. The woman- because before I trusted Christ, my sins were an unbearable weight on my heart. I would give up anything to be accepted in His presence. I don't care what others think of me as long as Jesus knows that I am totally committed to him.

Perhaps there is a little of all three of these characters in us. We can obviously sympathize with Jesus, who masterfully put a self-righteous Pharisee in his place and restored the dignity of a downtrodden woman in one fell swoop. We can also relate to Simon, because we all have our opinions and draw our social lines somewhere as far as "who God loves, and who God loves not".

Most importantly, we all had better be able to relate on some level to the woman, because her immorality is no different than the depths of sin in which we all wallowed before we came to Christ. If you don't think so, then you've just shown yourself as prideful as Simon, so perhaps you should re-read the passage.

Brother Lawrence wrote: "That when we enter upon the spiritual life, we should consider and examine to the bottom what we are. And then we should find ourselves worthy of all contempt, and not deserving indeed the name of Christians..." (Brother Lawrence, Practice of the Presence of God).

Were you thinking that you deserve the name of "Christian"? Those who follow Christ the most intensely are the ones who know they are the least worthy. When we realize our own extreme sinfulness and His mind-blowing forgiveness, we are faced with these decisions: "Is it worth giving everything I have to follow Him? Is it worth surrendering all I am to His control, for Him to use as He sees fit? Is it worth casting myself aside to serve the King?" If it is not, then perhaps you have forgotten how deep was the pit from which you have been rescued.

Questions:

1. Is there anything in your life that you need to give up in order to know Christ better?
2. Have you been poisoned by spiritual pride?
3. How do you keep yourself from thinking that you deserve God's grace?