We often bring attention to the multitude of sins in our society. We cry out about certain...

by Dr. Paul Chappell

"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. 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 7:36-38

Worship isn't a routine of actions; worship is a sacrifice from the heart.

We often bring attention to the multitude of sins in our society. We cry out about certain laws, point at unbiblical establishments, and lament about the degradation of our communities. Yet sometimes we fail to see our communities as God sees them. We forget about the grace and forgiveness of God. Over the next few days, we're going to study the story of Jesus' forgiveness in Luke 7.

Simon was a Pharisee who invited Jesus to dinner at his house in Luke 7. The Bible doesn't tell us why Simon wanted to eat with Jesus. Perhaps it was because Jesus was popular and Simon wanted to be seen with Him. Perhaps Simon was a cynic and wanted to catch Christ in a fault. Or perhaps, like Nicodemus, Simon was genuinely curious and interested in the message Jesus taught. For whatever reason, Jesus was invited to be a guest at Simon's home.

Dinners in those days were not private affairs. As we learned a few days ago, the host would invite many guests and broadly advertise the dinner in their town. At the dinner, invited guests would lie around a low table on cushions. Outsiders would come and go and even greet the guests during the meal. The host would lay out extra cushions so visitors could converse with the guests.

While Jesus was enjoying the dinner, a woman came to the home. The Bible doesn't give her name, but she was a common person, not of any rank or nobility. Luke also describes her as "a sinner" perhaps pointing to the fact that she was known for her sins in town. This woman was looked down upon by all in attendance. She was not invited by Simon, and Simon would probably have moved quickly to have her removed from the dinner.

The woman stood behind Jesus and wept. She took a lowly position near Jesus and showed her humility and respect for Christ. She knelt down and washed Jesus' feet with her tears and her hair. This move was significant because a woman's hair was cherished, but she took no thought of what people thought or might have said, and continued to worship the Lord.

She used what she had, her cherished hair and expensive ointment, to worship God. This woman didn't have much in the way of possessions or wealth, but gave all she had to show her appreciation for Christ and her gratitude to Him.

If a peasant woman in the Bible who had considerably less than we do would give all she had to the Lord, how much more should we? Jesus had not healed her of any sickness, forgiven her sins, or even died on the Cross, yet she worshipped Him for being God.

Our perspective of worshipping God is sometimes skewed. We worship Him by going to church, singing songs, and giving our offering. But worship isn't a routine of actions. Worship is a sacrifice from the heart. This woman gave what she had to worship God.

Have you sacrificed to worship and praise God? Is your worship confined to one day a week or do you center your life on worshipping and glorifying the Lord? Daily worship God by giving Him all you have and doing whatever He asks, no matter what people think or say.

To learn more about the ministries of Lancaster Baptist Church and Pastor Chappell, please visit lancasterbaptist.org, paulchappell.com, or follow him on twitter.

Daily Bible Reading
Esther 1-2 | Acts 5:1-21