Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, "This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, that she is a sinner." Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." He said, "Teacher, say on." "A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they couldn't pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?" Simon answered, "He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most." He said to him, "You have judged correctly." Luke 7:39–43 WEB.

One day, Jesus was invited to dine at a Pharisee's house. While they were talking, a sinful woman came in and began weeping at the feet of Jesus. Her tears dripped down on His feet and wet them. So she dried His feet with her hair, anointed them with fragrant oil, and kissed them.

The highly religious Pharisee looked on in pure disdain. He was shocked that Jesus would allow such a person to touch even His feet. "Touch me not" was a big thing for religious people at the time. Those who were sinners, unclean, or diseased were put out of the social circle. Yet Jesus touched them, and He allowed them to touch Him.

While the Pharisee pondered these things in his mind, Jesus suddenly told him a parable about his silent thoughts. Two people owed a certain moneylender, one five hundred and the other fifty. Neither could pay it, so he forgave them both their debt. Then Jesus asked: "Which of them would love him more?" The one who had the greater debt forgiven was the answer.

Then Jesus went on to tell the religious man that this lost person who had strayed from the path of virtue loved God more than he did. Wow! That is a stark comparison of the warm heart of God towards the lost sinner and the coldness of a religious actor towards the same person.

We often go by His name, but we don't carry His loving nature. God loves sinners, and He welcomes them with open arms. Don't let organized, institutionalized religion turn you away from getting to know Him yourself. Also, don't let the things you have been through make you feel unworthy of His love.

God can handle damaged goods. He was there when it took place, and you'll never know how much He loves you until you surrender your heart to Him and let Him heal it. He can put your life back together again when others have only broken it.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please bring healing to my life. Heal my emotions, balance my mood swings, and make me stable in You. Repair the damage done to me, Lord. I look to You for help. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

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