Listen

Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”

Luke 7:44-47

Think

Always glad when students do well, I get particularly excited when a struggling student shows great improvement, no matter what the final grade. New knowledge gained or just encouragement from doing well on something means so much to them. At my school, classes that show the best effort during the week get to have a picnic on Fridays. Laughter and fun echo in the sunshine.

The woman was a sinner. Yet she’d experienced God’s forgiveness so profoundly she washed Jesus’ feet with tears of gratitude, dried them with her hair, and lavishly anointed them. Unlike the Pharisee, Jesus didn’t care what her history was. Her sins were forgiven, and from that grace she was able to live out great love.

Our GPA from Jesus is weighted. The more forgiveness needed, the more love we’ll be able to experience and share with others. So this week, let’s strive for the picnic!

Molly Logan

Pray

God of love, you know life isn’t actually a picnic. Sometimes I want to be your star student, not the struggling learner of your grace we all actually are. It’s not always easy to realize we need to be forgiven or to forgive others. Yet thank you for letting me be a lifelong learner of your grace, living out your great love more each day. Amen.

Go

So, who’s at your table today? You may be surprised.

God’s promise is that everyone is welcomed to heaven’s provision.

We are blessed to be both guest and host in the feast of God’s grace.

Go now to share your bread at an open table.