Devotional - March 27, 2004

If your life has been redeemed by God, you should count yourself as one of the most blessed people on earth. Moses noted that there was no reason for God choosing the Israelites as his people except for the fact He loved them and made a promise to Abraham.

Perhaps you're one of those whose life has been so blessed. You may not be a Jew, but as a Christian you are none the less loved by God as a treasured possession. And if you are not saved, know that God loves you just as much as anyone else. And He wants a relationship with you whereby you want to return his affection.

Sadly, not everyone who is saved has regard for those who are lost. They somehow feel they alone are worthy to have a relationship with God and reject the notion that someone so unworthy could be saved. Jesus dealt with this kind of arrogance and prejudice all the time as he was constantly resisted by the Scribes and Pharisees.

When Jesus went one day to the house of a Pharisee for dinner, a woman who was living a sinful life came to Jesus with an expensive jar of perfume. She intended to use it to pour on Jesus' feet. But as she leaned over Jesus' feet, her tears fell on them and she wiped them away with her long hair. She knew she was unworthy, but had come to the One who would not prejudge her but would forgive her transgression. Her action is a timeless reminder of the forgiveness of God afforded those who approach Him in the right attitude.

That woman left the Pharisee's house forgiven while the self-righteous homeowner remained in his sin after Jesus left. "Broken and spilled out and laid at His feet," the song says. Our attitude should be like that the woman and not like the Pharisee who argued theology with Jesus and missed redemption when it knocked at the door.

Scripture says we're a treasured possession. Have you brought your sins to Jesus and laid them at this feet? Or are you so busy acting like you're worth something that you've forgotten what it feels like to be nothing but forgiven?