Because…

Divine Inspirations | by Dee Davis

Scripture Focus

“I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love.”

— Luke 7:47 NLT

Devotional:

She walked into a room where she knew she would be judged.

Luke doesn’t give us her name. He simply tells us that she was “a certain immoral woman.”  Her reputation had entered the room before she did.

Everyone knew who she was—or at least, they thought they did.

But she didn’t come for them.

She came for Jesus.

Carrying an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, she knelt behind Him. Her tears fell on His feet. She wiped them with her hair, kissed His feet repeatedly, and poured out her perfume.

No speech.

No explanation.

No attempt to defend her past.

Just tears, surrender, gratitude, and worship.

And while she worshiped, Simon the Pharisee watched.

He saw her label.

Jesus saw her faith.

Simon saw a sinful woman touching Jesus.

Jesus saw a woman who had come close enough to receive what only He could give.

They Knew Her Reputation. Jesus Knew Her.

Many of us know something about labels.

The one who failed.

The one who struggled.

The one who made the wrong decision.

The one whose marriage didn’t work.

The one who should have known better.

The one who is barely holding it together.

Sometimes other people place labels on us. And sometimes, long after God has extended grace, we continue wearing labels He never asked us to keep.

But Jesus saw beyond this woman’s past to what grace was producing in her.

He saw beyond her sin to her surrender.

Beyond her shame to her courage.

Beyond what she had done to the faith that brought her to His feet.

And perhaps that is part of what makes her worship so beautiful: she knew she needed Him.

Jesus told Simon a story about two people whose debts were canceled—one owed much more than the other. Neither could repay what was owed, yet both were forgiven.

Then Jesus asked which one would love the lender more.

Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.”

Exactly.

This woman wasn’t worshiping to earn forgiveness.

She worshiped because she understood the magnitude of the grace she had received.

Because…

And maybe that is where we find ourselves in her story.

Because I have been forgiven, I can love freely.

Because grace met me in places I would rather forget, I can worship without pretending I have always gotten it right.

Because Jesus knows the whole story—my sins, failures, struggles, tears, regrets, and weaknesses—and still calls me His, I don’t have to hide.

Because salvation was provided for me.

Because mercy was extended to me.

Because forgiveness was offered to me.

Because Jesus paid a debt I could never repay.

Because…

I can pour out my worship.

Not because I have lived perfectly, but because He has loved me completely.

The woman entered that room carrying a reputation, but she left carrying something greater.

Jesus said to her:

“Your sins are forgiven.”

And then:

“Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

— Luke 7:48, 50 NLT

What a way to leave the room.

Not defined by what she had done.

Not controlled by what people whispered.

Not carrying the debt Jesus had canceled.

Forgiven. Saved. At peace.

And that same Gospel still stands.

We need only place our faith in the One God sent.

Perhaps this is why those who truly understand grace can worship so freely. We know where God found us. We know what He carried us through. We know what He forgave. We know what we could never have done for ourselves.

So when we lift our hands, serve, give, love, forgive, or pour ourselves out before Him, there is a because behind our worship.

Because I remember what grace has done for me.

One Gentle Step

Take a few quiet moments today and finish this sentence:

“Jesus, I love You because…”

Don’t rush it.

Remember what He has forgiven. Remember where He met you. Remember how He kept you. And if you are still carrying a label from your past, ask yourself:

Am I continuing to call myself something Jesus has already forgiven?

Lay the label at His feet.

You don’t have to carry what grace has canceled.

A Prayer

Father, thank You for seeing all of me and still drawing me close. Thank You for the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ and for forgiving a debt I could never repay. Help me release every label, failure, and regret that You have already covered with Your grace. May I never become so familiar with Your mercy that I forget its cost. Let the remembrance of what You have done produce deeper love, freer worship, and greater compassion in me. I place my faith again in Jesus, the One You sent. And because I have been forgiven, help me live forgiven—free to love You, serve You, and worship You without shame.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Stay encouraged and be blessed.