The Most Precious Place of Completion
Luke 7:37-47 Amplified Bible (AMP)
37 And behold, a woman of the town who was an especially wicked sinner, when she learned that He was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment (perfume).38 And standing behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with [her] tears; and she wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed His feet [affectionately] and anointed them with the ointment (perfume).39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw it, he said to himself, If this Man were a prophet, He would surely know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching Him—for she is a notorious sinner (a social outcast, devoted to sin).40 And Jesus, replying, said to him, Simon, I have something to say to you. And he answered, Teacher, say it.41 A certain lender of money [at interest] had two debtors: one owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.42 When they had no means of paying, he freely forgave them both. Now which of them will love him more?43 Simon answered, The one, I take it, for whom he forgave and cancelled more. And Jesus said to him, You have decided correctly.44 Then turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, Do you see this woman? When I came into your house, you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.45 You gave Me no kiss, but she from the moment I came in has not ceased [intermittently] to kiss My feet tenderly and caressingly.46 You did not anoint My head with[cheap, ordinary] oil, but she has anointed My feet with[costly, rare] perfume.47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, many [as they are], are forgiven her—because she has loved much. But he who is forgiven little loves little.
Last weekend I was awarded my MBA, now for many people that is not a big deal, because school is no issue, and college even at a Master’s level degree is not a big deal, but for me this was a very emotional accomplishment. The day I went to pick up my Regalia (cap, gown and hood), I got back in the car with my husband and looked into his eyes and he hugged me tight and began to pray, I wept like a baby. I was overcome with emotion. The day of graduation I was so overwhelmed with emotion, when they handed me my degree, my heart was so full, although in September I received my first Master’s degree. It wasn’t the degree, but it was the adversity that it took to get complete this degree. It was because in this journey towards this degree, I had much to be forgiven, much to get through, and much to overcome, to complete this degree. This degree almost did not happen because my life was topsy turvy, BUT GOD!
When things cost us much, when we have to give up much, they mean so much more. When our heart is able to reflect on the journey that brings us to a place of completion, it can cause us to be filled to overflowing and humbled; a place of understanding that without God this day would never be possible. As I read this scripture it was the same type of humility and the overwhelming realization of God’s mercy and grace that brings us into a place of connection with God that brings us into a place of seeking Him for completeness, forgiveness and deliverance. Mary was overwhelmed because of what it took to come to Jesus and to be received by Him without judgment but with forgiveness. Not only did He forgive, but He esteemed her actions before those thought to be religiously superior and those who were thought to have lived a life that was right in God’s sight. It is when we forget the life that once was ours, or we do not recognize how much it took us to come to God, that we miss the place of humility and understanding that there has been so much that has brought us to a place of forgiveness, accomplishment and completion in God, because we look at all we have done right, instead of understanding the role of Grace in our lives and what it took to get us to the place to which we are now.
My husband and I have a way of reminding ourselves about how God has worked in our lives and where He has brought us from and what He has kept us through; we ask the question “where you were 365 days ago?” The MBA was reaped in tears, just as my salvation was, and my life and walk with Christ still is. Why, because I understand the role of God in my life and how He has been the one to not just keep me, but who has allowed me to come to a place of completion in so many things, but most importantly in Him, that without Him, would never have been available to me. I understand the oil that is in my life, I understand what I have been through and what pouring it out to God means. I am willing to pour it all out, because of God’s willingness to forgive me, cover me, protect me, deliver me and exalt me even when others have said I am not deserving of and could not come into a place of completion. When God gives us much, it is about our ability to understand where we have come from and what He has given us and what it cost that will keep us overwhelmed by grace and thankful for God’s love; a place that values where God brings us and what He does through us, and in us!
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