Lavished Love (Luke 7:37-48)

On Sunday, God gave me a word at church through one of His faithful.  Tonight as I asked Him in my heart where I should read, I felt Him prompting me to the verses the word referenced… the woman with the tears and alabaster box, Luke 7:37-48:

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.

It’s beautiful for me that He identifies me with this woman… for a number of reasons:

  1. She was informed. She knew where He was. She’d made it a point to know – to keep track of Him.  She felt He was worth seeking out – and did so.
  2. She was bold. She had a bad reputation, yet she didn’t let that stop her from going into the home of someone she had to have known looked down upon her.
  3. She came prepared. She didn’t show up with nothing to give.  She brought her best – probably spent a good portion of what she had to get it.
  4. She was humble. She didn’t go arrogantly.  She didn’t make sure He knew she was there.  She got on the floor behind Him.  Content to weep at His feet.
  5. She was overwhelmed.  I don’t know why exactly it was that she cried – but I sense she was overwhelmed by Him – that’s why she cried – that’s why she gave all she had.
  6. She held nothing back.  All that she had she freely lavished on Him.  And she lavished it on Him before He had given her anything – she lavished because He was worthy.  Period.
  7. She was unashamed in her love for Him. She didn’t care who was looking or what they thought of her.  She was there to love on the One whom she was head-over-heels for – nothing was going to stop her.
  8. She was forgiven.  In my blog You are faithful; You will ever be!, I talk about how God removes sin – this word used here for forgiveness is the same word I covered previously, which means even more than how we would define it… it sounds more complete somehow.

Lord, let me be more like this woman.  I want to know Your heart.  To be bold and unashamed.  To be prepared and humble.  To be overwhelmed by Your presense and to hold nothing back from You – to completely lavish my love on You.  And I want to experience the fullness of the forgiveness You’ve to graciously given me.  Thank You, Lord.  Thank You.

One Reply to “Lavished Love (Luke 7:37-48)”

  1. You are so much like this woman already! Your descriptions describe your own heart. You really are an amazing woman, and God is doing some amazing things in your heart in this particular season. I’m blessed to have you in my life because that heart is a beautiful one, and it influences everyone that is around it.

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