Fresh Manna 7 November
MEDITATION SCRIPTURE: “Now when the Pharisees who had invited him saw it, he said to himself; if these man were a prophet he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” (Lk.7:39).
READ: LUKE 7:36-50
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.
The Pharisees accused Jesus of spiritual blindness for not discerning who it was that was touching him. Ironically it was the spiritual sensitivity of the Lord that actually made him to welcome and accept the woman. While the Pharisees was busy judging the woman from her terrible past, the Lord looked beyond her yesterday to see her penitence and her bright future in the grace economy. How often we judge and condemn people base on what we think we know about them, not realizing that change can really happen in someone’s life within a short moment of time.
God has plans for every person you see and meet every day. That they are the worst sinners today does not mean that the door of grace has been closed against them, that you knew who they were yesterday does not give you the right to conclude who they are now or decide what they will eventually become tomorrow. It is wrong to give up on any man that is still breathing because it does not require a century for God to transform a life. The Pharisee thought he knew more than Jesus but he was only advertising his gross ignorance of the marvels of grace. He was right when he said the woman was a sinner, but that was yesterday.
If only you can give those people, you call sinners a chance, you may discover that they are better saints than you are.
TURNING POINT: It is wrong to give up on any man that is still breathing because God can change his story at any time.
PRAYER POINT: Lord. Help me never to condemn those that You have justified.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JER.36, 37; PHIL,1
Thank you for studying today’s Fresh Manna (The Christian Pentecostal Mission International Daily Devotional) – Judging By The Past – written by REV. DR. O. EZEKIEL & REV. DR. M. EZEKIEL
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Fresh Manna 7 November 2021
