Broken-hearted Woman

Posted on January 12, 2012 by valerie

You don’t have to look very hard today to find people who are hurting.

Many are women who were looking for love, and gave their bodies to
a man in the heat of passion; only to find out he was only interested in
a one night stand.

Others are victims of rape, incest, prostitution, or pornography.

God has left us stories in the Bible about hurting people who made mistakes
in judgment, so we will understand how much he loves and cares about all
kinds of people.

There is no one who has committed sins too horrible to be forgiven
by our loving and merciful Father and Creator.

(Today’s devotion is from Luke 7 beginning with vs. 36)

There was a Pharisee named, Simon who had invited
Jesus to dinner at his home. As they sat down to the meal,
a woman, who was a sinner, entered the house
and brought an alabaster box of costly perfume.

Tears flowed from her eyes like rain on to Jesus’ feet, washing the dust from them.
On her knees, she kissed his feet, and dried them with her hair.

She then opened a box of sweet smelling perfume
and anointed his head and feet.

When Simon, the owner of the house, saw what she had done, he thought to himself…if
this man was a prophet, he would know this woman is a sinner.

Jesus could read his thoughts and wanted to put a stop to his hypocritical
behavior. He began to tell them a story… in his quiet, thought provoking way…

Two men owed money to their master. One owed 500 denarri and another
man owed 50 denarri. (a denarri is a coin worth about a day’s wages)

The master, out of the goodness of his heart, canceled both debts.

Jesus asked Simon, which man would love the master more?

Simon replied, Probably the one who owed the biggest debt.

Jesus said…you are correct. Do you see this woman? When I came into your house,
you didn’t wash my feet…but her tears washed the dust from my feet and she dried
them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I arrived, she has not
stopped kissing my feet. You gave me no oil to anoint my heart, but she has
anointed my head and feet. Her many sins have been forgiven, for she
has great love for me.

He who has been forgiven little, loves little.

Jesus turned to the woman and assured her…Your sins are forgiven…go in peace.

The other guests spoke among themselves…who is this man who forgives sins?

Jesus had a powerful heart of compassion. He could see the pain the
woman was in. Perhaps she had been abused or mistreated in her past.
Whatever her sins were, they weighed heavily upon her shoulders.

Respectable women of those days did not let down their hair
in front of men…and washing feet was usually done by
the lowliest of servants.

Her humble offering to Jesus was given from her heart…
and was so pleasing to Jesus, he had a memorial
placed in the Bible about her.

She never asked Jesus for anything, but he saw her broken
and repentant spirit. He received her pain into his own body
and healed her with forgiveness, acceptance, and love.

He boldly stood up to the man who tried to criticize and judge her.
With Jesus on her side, no one could stand against her.

Simon had a judgmental spirit and could not love Jesus
or the woman from a pure heart.

He didn’t think he had any sins to be forgiven.

Like this woman, I have many sins that Jesus had to suffer and die for.
He saw my heart and has forgiven me.

He offers to freely do the same for anyone who humbly confesses, they need forgiveness.

For years, I kept my pain inside my heart in a box of bitterness and self-pity.

I felt no one would understand, but Jesus did. For me, writing…
is like breaking open the alabaster box of pain and laying it at Jesus’ feet.
It is my offering to him.

My hope and prayer is to help others find healing and forgiveness too.

Today our world is in a war. The enemy is sin, hate, prejudice, and unforgiveness.

Soldiers are fighting for liberation and freedom…
but there are terrorists inside the homes of many people every day.

The terrorists are drug addicts, alcoholics, spouse abusers, and child molesters…
disguised as regular, ordinary people. They may be a father, mother,
husband, pastor, or friend.

Every day their families fear for their lives. The pain is
intense and as a family of God we must examine carefully our
behavior.

We must be sure that we are not judging someone, for we
have not walked in their shoes.

One of these terrorist may even attend our church or teach our children
at school. We must be careful to look at our friends and family members,
and recognize any pain in their eyes.

Too often today, many churches have become busy places of activity.

We forgotten our job is to spread the gospel and
help the helpless.

Today you may feel broken on the inside. Jesus loves you
and sees the pain in your heart. He longs to take you in his
arms and rescue you from the pit of despair.

There is nothing too horrible, that he will not forgive, from
and broken and contrite heart.

Beloved…

Run to him and break your alabaster box of pain at his feet.
Let his nail scarred hands, lift you up and make you whole.

Heavenly Father,
Holy is Your name…

Thank you for this beautiful new day and for the wonderful story
of this sinful woman, just like me.

Forgive me for not always taking the time to listen to others,
or recognize the pain inside their hearts. Forgive me for
judging others, instead of dealing with my own inadequacies.

I need Jesus as my Savior. I accept the free gift of salvation through
His death on the cross for my sins. Wash my unclean heart and
mind in His blood. Help me to think good thoughts and have a pure heart
in all my actions and reactions. Show me someone who need to
see Jesus shining through me. I trust You to give me the words and
open doors to help others, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Show me Your ways, O LORD. Teach me, guide me, direct me.
I give You my life. Use me to help others who are lost.

We lift up prayers to You for all who are victims of terror or abuse.
Rescue them from the hands of evil. Especially save our children, LORD.
They are often, too young to flee. Father please help the helpless.
Heal their emotional scars and exchange their pain for peace.

We lift up prayers to you for all who are victims of wars. Comfort and
protect our military and their families. Strengthen and fill them
with courage to defend our world against hate and evil. Only Jesus
can empower our forces to be victorious. With you fighting for us,
we are well able to conquer any force which would try to oppress us…
by Your Almighty hands.

There is none higher than you! Direct the hearts of our leaders, in
all nations of the world, to end the hate and violence. Show them
how to solve their conflicts in peace. Take out of power all who
will not pray and submit to the leadership of the LORD Jesus.

With You there is hope. With You there is mercy and deliverance!

We lift up prayers to you for all the marriages who
are broken. We ask for your healing touch to enter their hearts.

Help them to forgive and begin their marriage again, with you leading and
guiding their homes.

Unite our homes in love and faith. We look to you for healing and deliverance.

We lift up prayers to you for all who are sick and in pain.
Surround them with your comfort and cast the sickness and disease from their
bodies. By the stripes of Jesus, they are healed.

We offer to you the sacrifice of joy and praise. We lift our hands to
bless Your holy name. We love you and thank you for always
hearing and answering our prayers.

In Jesus’ name we pray…

Amen

Now the God of peace, who raised Jesus from the dead,
our great shepherd of sheep, through the blood of his everlasting
covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will,
working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight,
through Jesus Christ.

Your sister and servant of the LORD Jesus,

Valerie Rousseau