Then He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.”
Luke 7:48

Sometimes I read passages like this one in Luke 7 and I am stopped in my tracks. I do not cease to be amazed by our Lord and the wonder of his ways. Even in the familiar he is able to disarm us, if we let him. The forgiveness of God cannot be earned, only received. The Bible does not tell us what this woman’s sins were. It doesn’t matter. What does matter is the beautiful scene that unfolds as she begins to literally “pour out” her love at the feet of Jesus. Jesus is reclining at a meal of a Pharisee named Simon when she enters and begins to wash Jesus feet with her tears. She then continues bathing his feet with her tears, wiping them with her hair, kissing his feet and pouring perfume on them. She does not say a word. How long does this go on? It does not say, but we do have Jesus statement, “from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet” (v. 45). I’m assuming that she is still doing so while Jesus is teaching. He has not made her stop. He accepts her gift of love. This portrait is one of grace. Why would he allow this shameful woman to touch him? Jesus answers this question, “Her sins, which were many, have been forgiven for she has loved much” (v. 47).
We must ask ourselves this question, “Do we love Jesus more than we do our sins?” Your actions will answer that question louder than your words. She loved much. I pray that we are learning to seek Christ more each day. He is ready to receive those who are willing to come to him and be changed. It doesn’t matter what others may think or say, God knows your heart and your life.