Last Sunday, I was able to attend church once again after not being able to go for some time. I can’t say that I’m very happy at how easily it is to fall out from going to church consistently because we all desperately need it in our lives. Typically we go and go and life gets better, easier even. We stop going for whatever reason and then when life gets hard again, we decide that it’s time to go. Even though we are all guilty of this, we shouldn’t beat ourselves up to much over it. After all, we are only human and Jesus knows how imperfect we are. The important thing is to never lose sight of ones faith. I truly enjoyed going back and being in the atmosphere of worshipping. I had the intentions of taking down some notes on the message while I was there and I gotta say that it helped me get a better understanding of what was being preached. Hopefully I can continue to do that so that I may spread the word of God in my very own way.
On to the message:
Luke 7:36-39
36 And one of the Pharisees desired that He would eat with him. And He went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. 37 And behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38 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. 39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spoke within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that touched him: for she is a sinner.
These few bible verses refers to the woman that gave Jesus as much as she could even when she barely had anything to give. She walked into a house that she was not welcomed too and began to kiss and wash His feet with the most expensive ointment she had at the time. She offered her time, and the only thing in her life that held financial value. She was spoken bad about in front of Jesus by others in the house. Saying that He should not allow her to touch Him because of all the sins she carried. Yet this woman did not care and continued to worship Jesus in the best way she knew how. In her own way, with whatever she could give. She did what she did because she desperately needed to see Jesus. She just wanted to be forgiven for all her sins. Even when other people disapproved of these actions, Jesus told them that anyone who is forgiven little, is thankful little and those who are forgiven a lot, are thankful a lot.
So here are some questions:
– Would you be willing to do what she did?
– Would you be willing to love people the same way that she loved Jesus?
Answering those questions could be difficult and almost always we will say “well, it depends on the person and the circumstance”. It’s easy to love easy people and easy to be nice to nice people. But what about the difficult ones that truly need love and acceptance?
It’s important to give our all with whatever form of worship you have. Whether it’s your time, energy, or finances. You never know who you can help, who God can help through you.
Here are some benefits of giving:
1). We please God when we give.
2). Our giving allows God to act on our behalf.
3). Out giving destroys the enemy’s plan.
4). God uses giving to get us out of trouble
5). Our giving creates moments of unlimited blessings
6). Giving creates conversation and change
So whether you have a talent, hobby, or calling that can be your form of giving back, do it. Any amount of time or energy that you give is a beautiful thing. Read to someone, write about God’s word, or just simply be there for someone. Let God work through you.