The Scripture – Luke 7:36 – 50

36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. 39 When the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He would know who is touching Him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” 40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” He said. 41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, c and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. 44 Then He turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” 48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

The Devotional –

What do you do when you’ve lost everything? When your marriage has failed, and you feel like a failure?

What do you do when there’s no where to go and no one to talk to about your struggles, because everyone thinks that you are the golden child?

Who do you turn to and what do you say when you do turn?

These are painful questions that I’ve had to face in my life. Questions of falling down, rejection and redirection. These are questions that often lead to dead-end answers and a lifetime filled with the futile search for love in all the wrong places.

I imagine that the Woman with the Alabaster Box in Luke’s Gospel faced similar questions that are always birthed from the crucible of failing. I suppose that she was ostracized, criticized, and taken down a size by the very people in whom she’d hoped to find some solace. But, like many of us, she found herself alone, unclaimed and misnamed. Can you relate?

The Lord showed me her story at a time which marked the end of a relationship that was supposed to last a lifetime and the beginning of my ministry which has sprung eternal within me. I call that time the HOLY INTERSECTION! I love this Woman’s story because she’d been forgiven by Jesus when she needed it most. I love this Woman’s story because her love for the Lover of her soul made her whole. This has become my favorite Bible Story because the same Lover of her soul – loves me and has made me whole – again, and again and again! Her story has become the soundtrack of my life and ministry and has allowed me to dance through my tears, give out of my pain, and serve Jesus through it all!

Today, some 20 years after discovering her story, I find myself at another HOLY INTERSECTION wondering how “failure” will define me. I’m so glad that I met my Sister at Simon the Pharisee’s House one day. I’m so glad that she showed me how to get to Jesus’s feet in spite of my defeat. I’m so glad that she taught me how to rise above the shame of disappointment and to keep my divine appointment with the One who keeps on saving my soul and making me whole!

So, I’ve come to pour my praise on Him like oil. Don’t be angry if I was my feet with His tears and I dry them with my hair. Because you weren’t there the night Jesus found me, and you weren’t there when He wrapped His loving arms around me. And, you don’t know the cost of the oil in my Alabaster Box.

I pray that you will see Jesus waiting for you at the HOLY INTERSECTIONS of your life…

Selah…

The Prayer:

Let Us Pray,

Our Father and Our God!

We come before You today with the oil of thanksgiving in our hearts and the sweet fragrance that can only flow through broken pieces in our midst. We bow before You, worshipping and adoring You. Giving You praise because You are the One Who orders our days. Accept O’ Lord the tears of love from our eyes, the sweep of service found in our praise, and the sacrifice of worship that we bring in spite of our broken things. Thank You, Lord, for being the center of every favorite story of our lives and for writing new stories with us that bring glory to Your name!

For it is in Jesus’s Name that we pray.

Amen