Grateful Sinners
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“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, 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.”
Luke 7:37–38
Jesus was holy and perfect and sinless. He never lowered His standards or excused bad behavior. He preached a message of repentance, telling people that God would only accept them if they trusted Him. Yet despite the clarity of His message and His unwavering commitment to righteousness, sinners were drawn to His presence. Meeting Jesus does highlight the awfulness of our sin, but it also offers hope—the only hope that is available to a lost and dying world.
I read the story of a young girl who accepted Christ as her Saviour and applied for membership in a local church many years ago. “Were you a sinner before you received the Lord Jesus into your life?” inquired an old deacon. “Yes, sir,” she replied. “Well, are you still a sinner?” “To tell you the truth, I feel I’m a greater sinner than ever.” “Then what real change have you experienced?” “I don’t quite know how to explain it,” she said, “except I used to be a sinner running after sin, but now that I am saved, I’m a sinner running from sin!”
If we take even a single moment to reflect on our salvation, both on the enormous cost with which it was purchased, and the amazing grace that offered it to us freely, even though we did nothing to deserve it, we find ourselves kneeling along with this woman at the feet of Jesus. No service or worship can ever repay the indescribable gift we have received from His nail-scarred hands.
Luke 7:37–38
Jesus was holy and perfect and sinless. He never lowered His standards or excused bad behavior. He preached a message of repentance, telling people that God would only accept them if they trusted Him. Yet despite the clarity of His message and His unwavering commitment to righteousness, sinners were drawn to His presence. Meeting Jesus does highlight the awfulness of our sin, but it also offers hope—the only hope that is available to a lost and dying world.
I read the story of a young girl who accepted Christ as her Saviour and applied for membership in a local church many years ago. “Were you a sinner before you received the Lord Jesus into your life?” inquired an old deacon. “Yes, sir,” she replied. “Well, are you still a sinner?” “To tell you the truth, I feel I’m a greater sinner than ever.” “Then what real change have you experienced?” “I don’t quite know how to explain it,” she said, “except I used to be a sinner running after sin, but now that I am saved, I’m a sinner running from sin!”
If we take even a single moment to reflect on our salvation, both on the enormous cost with which it was purchased, and the amazing grace that offered it to us freely, even though we did nothing to deserve it, we find ourselves kneeling along with this woman at the feet of Jesus. No service or worship can ever repay the indescribable gift we have received from His nail-scarred hands.
Today’s Growth Principle:
As we remember the cost of our salvation, our hearts should be filled with gratitude and praise to God.
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