March 25, 2024
Daily Devotion:
"Love and Saved by Grace"
Luke 7:47–50
NRSV
47 Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” 48 Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
An unnamed, uninvited woman approached Jesus. She poured expensive perfume on His feet and wiped the dirt
and dust off His feet with her hair. All of this was an outpouring of love to her Lord, the One who forgave all her sins. What her sins were or what her past looked like no longer mattered when she met Jesus. He had forgiven her, and she loved Him.
Jesus is powerful. He has the power to forgive sins and turn hardened hearts to Him. He is also full of love, care, and compassion, and He fully and completely welcomes us when we turn from our sin and follow Him. The Pharisees did not love Jesus because they did not
believe they needed forgiveness. But the woman knew she needed to be forgiven, and it drove her to love and worship Jesus with abandon.
We must continually ask ourselves how we respond to Jesus and the forgiveness He offers. Do we see our need for forgiveness and therefore come to Him in love and worship, or do we deny that we are sinners and then criticize His grace and mercy for others? May we be like this woman, acknowledging that we are loved and saved by grace, enabling us to extend love and grace to those around us.
