The Word for Wednesday

The Bible truly is "living and active" and this meme is designed to demonstrate that fact. Each week, I'll post a scripture that has touched my heart, whether it's an old favorite or new light from the Holy Spirit.

If you'd like to participate and share what God has written on your heart, just leave your link in a comment, and I'll come eagerly to see what you have shared. Next week I hope to have Mr. Linky figured out to make it easier for us all.

Feel free to copy my Bible photo to use if you'd like. With a little manipulation, I thought it looked like the words were coming right up off the page, and that seemed appropriate.

When I was first saved, I landed in a boisterous charismatic/pentecostal church. We sang, we clapped, we danced, and generally got a good workout. And then we prayed and worshipped and listened to a sermon. But when the service was over, I was a bit disconcerted that the conversation turned to ... football and recipes. Huh?

I guess I was being a bit single-minded, but the only thing I wanted to talk about was God. I wanted to tell everyone how Jesus had saved me. I wanted to hear about how He had saved them. I was so grateful that I had been forgiven, so grateful that I had a new beginning in life, that I truly didn't understand why everyone else wanted to talk about ... football and recipes.

As has become my habit, when I don't understand something, I pray about it. In those days, my answers were almost instantaneous - probably because God knew I was sorely lacking in patience - and this time was no exception.

When I settled into bed to do my Bible reading that night, this passage jumped off the page and hit me in the face.

Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner." And Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he replied, "Say it, Teacher."

"A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?" Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." And He said to him, "You have judged correctly." Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little." Then He said to her, "Your sins have been forgiven." Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this man who even forgives sins?" And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." (Luke 7:36-50)

I was thirty-nine-years old when I was saved. I had been forgiven, all at once, for thirty-nine-years of sin. No wonder I was so full of love for Jesus. No wonder, fifteen years later, that I still am.

Verse 47 is my verse: I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven. It's the first one that God wrote on my heart, and I cling to it still.