Luke 7

Standing at the sink the other day, my 5 year old runs into the kitchen.  He leans against the sink and looks up at me with that I have a question look in his eyes.

Mom, was that man with the sores that came to Jesus, where they bleeding?

Turning away from the dishes in the sink I looked down at him.  My heart was moved because I knew that this was not something we'd recently talked about.

Well, Bud, the Bible doesn't say if those sores were bleeding.

We talked for a couple of minutes about his question then, seemingly satisfied, he went off to play again.  Poor kid, he gets his love of details from his momma.  Or maybe he's just being a kid and that inquiring mind is always running.  Either way, I went on about my chores.  But I think back and smile, knowing that there will be more questions.



 

Reading in the book of Luke this morning, I read a familiar story...no, not about the leper (though I did read that one a few days ago).  It was a story that has been brought to my attention several times over the last few weeks.  Once during the Southern Baptist (Great Commission) Baptist Convention and once yesterday on Facebook.  It comes out of Luke 7.  As I read this again today, here a few of my thoughts.

One, many of us are like Simon.  We see the speck in our friend's eye yet are completely oblivious to the plank in our own.  The parable Jesus used was about two debtors.  One with much debt, one with a little debt.  Much or little, there was still debt owed by both parties.  We must see ourselves for what we are.  Sinners.  We cannot overlook our own sins and point out the sins of others.  We must look deeper than their sins, to the person and be moved with compassion for them.

Two, not enough of us are like her.  She, this sinner woman, laid aside the mess of a life she was living and laid her all at the feet of Jesus.  She didn't come to Jesus perfect.  She came to him broken.  She didn't judge others but she didn't try to hide her own past.  She knew who and what she had been and understood she could still come to Jesus.  We must take a good long hard look at ourselves and see a greater need than self.

Three, none of us are Jesus.  Yes, I believe that Jesus Christ is my redeemer, my healer, my Lord and my Savior.  But I am not Jesus.  I do not have the ability or authority to eternally forgive one of their sins.  I am not nor will I ever be the final judge and jury.  I can not be the Savior.  However, I can point to him with my life.  I can love others as he has loved me.  And to be forgiven much means I need to love much, not judge much or be tolerant of much.  To love much means to gently lead to the Savior in the light of the truth, not our opinions, desires or wants.

Lord, today and every day hereafter, help me to show my gratitude to you as she did and as the leper did.  Help me to remember that I am no different than they were in my need for you.

E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.
And shall be till I die, and shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.

By William Cowper