In 1947, Major and Mrs. Ian Thomas opened Capernwray Hall in England to their first Bible school students. What makes this event extraordinary was the fact that the first students were German. Only 2 years earlier, not only had England and Germany been at war, but Major Thomas had fought in the conflict! His ability to forget the past but also to offer the hand of friendship and the love of Jesus to citizens of a former enemy nation is a beautiful example.
In Luke 7, Jesus also provides a beautiful example of what it means to forgive the “worst” of people (in the world’s eyes at least). He reveals the importance of knowing that each one of us is lost in our fallen spiritual state, if we’ll only realize it.
The “immoral woman” showed pain and penitence as she anointed Jesus (Luke 7:37-38). Due to her own feelings of unworthiness, she would not even face the Lord, but knelt behind Him. Then, in humility, she kissed His feet and placed “perfume on them.” Furthermore, the perfume she poured out was very expensive, but her tears revealed that she didn’t think the price was high enough for such a sinner as herself. She prostrated herself at Jesus’ feet, hoping for but not expecting forgiveness.
In contrast, the religious leader elevated himself not only above the woman but also above Jesus, assuming that he could see what Jesus couldn’t (Luke 7:39). He was blind to his dead spiritual state and therefore couldn’t repent of his condition. His pride made him completely unaware.
Major Thomas could extend forgiveness and love to others because he knew what Jesus had done for him. The fuel for forgiving others springs from our awareness of how much we’ve been forgiven by God.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Matthew 6:19-34
More:
Read Matthew 18:21-35 and consider what it means to forgive as Jesus has instructed.
Next:
How has the grace of God changed your view of those dealing with sin? What does it mean to forgive someone as God has forgiven you?
corgimom on July 2, 2016 at 5:45 am
It’s funny that when I begin to criticize others for their faults or behaviors, thinking I am so much better like Simon the Pharisee, God very often puts me in their shoes so I can get first hand knowledge of what they are dealing with. Lord, help me to remember that there are no “big” sins or “little” sins, there is just SIN, and I have been forgiven much. Help me to be tolerant and forgiving of others as I have been forgiven by You.
al061016 on July 2, 2016 at 6:09 pm
Amen. Praise the Lord for His mighty power working in you and sustaining you in your journey to recovery. I trust God will remember your heart to Him and help you become like the women in this story, a witness of Him to the whole world.
BearPair on July 2, 2016 at 6:47 am
Excellent reminder & lesson for us, Russell–thank you! Ian Thomas’ teaching over the years has been a rich blessing to both of us–thank you for the reminder of this, as well. Such a depth of truth in this marvelous portion from Jesus’ days on earth.
Gary Shultz on July 2, 2016 at 7:00 am
Russell, Corgimom has ideas I would agree with. Some things seem much harder for us to deal with, but it is the fiber we seem to have bound in are souls. Only by God’s grace can we walk before Him. If a Holy God can put up with the likes of us we better take stock where we stand. Behavior is not a saving factor, it is the belief that changes from the inside out. Why do we always expect good behavior from people gripped in sin? God just asks us to believe and surrender to Him, a soul birth is required. Thanks Russell
gagirllive on July 2, 2016 at 7:40 am
Russell, seeing ourselves as superior to others is surely a great stumbling block to grace and forgiveness. It keeps us at a “safe” distance from them, lest we get too close and see ourselves. Had the Pharisee saw himself the sinner that he saw in the woman, he would have offered her a place at the table with himself and Jesus. None of us has any right to sit at the King’s table, but because of His grace and mercy He has invited us. When we truly know this grace and forgiveness, we can be an extension of Christ’s hand to our fellow man. There is an African proverb that I came across a few years ago that captures this thought. It goes, “When I saw him from afar he was a monster. When I got closer I saw that he was an animal. When I came even closer I saw that he was a human being. And when we came face to face I saw that he was my brother.” Great devo today, Russell. A safe and blessed weekend to all.
hsnpoor on July 2, 2016 at 1:11 pm
I know there was a time when your reading felt and looked like an addiction because of what motivated it, but I’m so glad you did and continue to do so, GAgirl, because it makes your sharing so very rich and it’s such a shinning example of Rom. 8:28 played out before our eyes. I love that African proverb! It must be the sin nature that makes our initial tendency to fear that which we don’t know; thus, the most often repeated commandment in scripture: “do not fear”. It is nothing but the LORD that can teach us how to cast out that fear and replace it with love, first for Him and then for others and ourselves. Who can flourish in an atmosphere of fear; who can’t flourish in an atmosphere of unconditional, perfect love?
gagirllive on July 2, 2016 at 2:46 pm
Hsnpoor, I guess I looked at the African proverb a little different than you did. While it certainly can be applied to fear, in this instance I saw it as an application of judgement and self-righteousness. I’ve cataloged a lot of quotes and sayings over the years, (and by the way, thank you for pointing out the “good” that came out of my idolatry) and that one popped in my mind immediately as I thought about the Pharisee in today’s passage…and the Pharisee that is often found in us. We tend to think of other people’s sin as “monstrous” (especially if it’s something we find abhorrent) in comparison to our own. It isn’t until we close the distance between them and us that we see the brotherhood of our brokenness, as was the case in the African proverb that I shared. Who knows?—the Pharisee may have been “quite familiar” with the immoral woman. If so, her presence there would have definitely unnerved him. Most likely he was just flaunting his superiority because of his blindness to his own desperate need of forgiveness and grace. Anyhoo…lots to think about there as we face the temptation to hold others in contempt when we’ve been forgiven so much ourselves. Thanks for sharing with me, Kim. Have a great holiday weekend!