I am reading in Luke 7:36-50 NASB1995, some of which I will summarize.

Jesus was invited to dine with a Pharisee at his house. And while he was there a woman who was a sinner came there to see him. She brought with her 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.” But the Pharisee 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.”

The Pharisee’s name was Simon, and Jesus then told him a parable:

Luke 7:41-43: “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.”

Luke 7:44-50: 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.”

So, what can we learn from this? No matter how great your sin, no matter what kinds of things you have done, or how long you have done them, if you come to the Lord humbly, repentant, submissive, in surrender of your life to Jesus Christ, worshipful of who he is and of what he did for us in giving his life up for us on that cross to deliver us out of our addiction to sin so that we can now live for him in walks of obedience to his commands, he will forgive you. And he will set you free from your slavery to sin so that you can now serve him with your life for the remainder of your days. It is never too late!

We can also learn to not be self-righteous, looking down on those who have (or have had) a sordid reputation. For all of us were born into sin, and none of us can be righteous in our own merit, of our own flesh. All of us must come to a place of humility, as did this woman, in repentance, and in genuine love for our Lord. For it is only by the grace of God that any of us are set free from our slavery to sin so that we can now obey our Lord and walk worthy of him. And this does not mean we are to tolerate and approve of sin, but to show the love of Jesus to all people, no matter who they are.

We can also learn that genuine salvation and love for our Lord is not in profession only, and it is not in ritualistic religious practice, but it is in humility, repentance, compassion, and submission to him as Lord of our lives. It is in obedience to him and to his commands and in the forsaking of our sins to now serve him with our lives. It is in doing for our Lord what he requires of us in thought, word, and deed, and not in performance only, and not just doing what we are willing to do while we ignore his commands. For love for God is doing what pleases him, not what pleases our human flesh.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Acts 26:18]

My Cry for Mercy

Based off Psalm 86
An Original Work / October 31, 2013
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Hear my prayer, Lord, I am needy.
Guard my life, for I’m devoted to You.
Save me! I’m Your servant.
You are my God. I trust in You.

O, Lord, have mercy on me,
For I call to You.
Bring joy to me, for to You
I will lift up my soul.

You are giving and forgiving.
You abound in love to all who
Call upon You. Hear my prayer, Lord.
Listen to my cry for mercy.

In days of trouble I call to You,
Knowing that You will
Do marvelous things,
Because You are my God.

Teach me Your way; I’ll walk in it.
In Your truth, Lord, You will guide me.
A pure heart, Lord, You will give me,
So that I may glorify You.

Turn to me, Lord, and grant
Strength to Your servant.
O, Lord, You are my help,
For You love and You comfort me.

Teach me Your way; I’ll walk in it.
In Your truth, Lord, You will guide me.
A pure heart, Lord, You will give me,
So that I may glorify You.

Humble and Submissive
An Original Work / February 19, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love