A Sinful Woman Forgiven
In Luke Chapter 7, we read the account of Jesus dining with a Pharisee, in which a woman ‘of the city’ (most likely a prostitute, see the Pharisee’s reaction in ) comes in and begins to weep openly while washing the feet of Jesus – with her hair. Now, at this time in history, people generally wore sandals when they were walking around, and the area was very dusty, dirty, and just generally filthy, so to wash someone’s feet was considered a significant act of servitude. This woman was not only washing his feet (unsolicited, mind you) but she was doing it with the hair on her head () and with her tears to boot.
The woman knew the depth of her own sin and was demonstrating her own inability to do anything about it.
And all the Pharisee could focus on was how much sin the woman had. The Pharisee questioned the situation; why would Jesus allow a woman of her… stature to do such a thing to him? Surely, He was above this!
But Jesus turns it around on him. Through the use of a small, but very powerful parable, He demonstrates that those who are at the very rock bottom – those who’s lives have fallen apart due to the rampant proliferation of sin in their lives – are the ones who are most aware of how much they need forgiveness. And when they receive that forgiveness, they are the most grateful, knowing that they are powerless to make it right, to remove the blight from their own lives.
The Pharisee, who is righteous in his own eyes – he follows the law to the letter, using loopholes and interpretation to make sure that he is right – cannot see where he has fallen away. But the woman, who has experienced the depths of her sin, is made softer, more malleable, and can readily forgive others. She is crushed by her own unrighteousness, and knows that she is unable to do anything by her own hand to reach forgiveness.
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39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” (ESV)
38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. (ESV)
Refined as Silver
He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD. – Malachai 3:3
The Great Refiner
Do you know how precious metals used to be refined, ‘back in the day,’ as they say? In a process called ‘cupellation,’ a refiner would 
take the ugly lumps of minerals that were mined from the earth, grind them up, and put the resulting, even uglier mess of metal in a small, bone-ash container called a cupel. Then, he would put that cupel in a large furnace, and carefully blow over the molten metal, separating the precious metal from the less-desirable metals such as bismuth, lead, or zinc. After the process he’d be left with a greasy-looking substance called “litharge,” and a small, pure button of the precious metal at the bottom of the cupel. One thing of note about precious metals – they are reflective, and very much so. Probably one of the more effective ways of detecting the purity of the mineral left at the bottom of the equipment was to see how well it reflected the refiner’s image; if the worker could look into the material and see his own face, then it would be pretty safe to assume that all the lead was gone, that all the dead weight had been removed. Similarly, God uses our time on this earth to refine us, and it takes a lot of work, a lot of heat, and a whole lot of patience. There’s even a bit of a mess made in the process, and that’s OK.
But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold. –
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. –
The following additional resources were used in researching this article:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refining_(metallurgy)
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cupellation
- http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/544891/silver-processing
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10 But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold. (ESV)
6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (ESV)
Integrity
25 Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. 26 Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. 27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.
What, exactly, is integrity?
Put simply, and somewhat inefficiently, integrity is ‘moral uprightness,’ or unwavering honesty. Perhaps a more refined definition would be to say that integrity is the moral fortitude to do what’s right, even in the face of hardship, up to and including severe personal loss, or even death! A man who is truly of integrity is hard to come by; it’s harder still to live one’s life under such a strict code of ethics, and part of that difficulty comes from the challenge of defining without a shadow of a doubt what’s morally right.
In society, there are often many interpretations on any given subject, each of which would define what’s right in a different way. A pro-life politician who became pregnant out of wedlock during her campaign and aborted the child would be considered of low integrity, by both sides of the argument! However, were she to have carried the child to term, however difficult that made her campaign, it would be inarguable that she had integrity in this specific area. She knew what her morals were, and she stuck to them; and even though she ‘did the right thing’ in her world-view, someone who is pro-choice may not find her of high integrity, simply because of a difference of morals.
So how do we maintain integrity? How do we know what’s right, and what’s wrong? The simple, ‘go to’ answer, of course, is the Bible. Proverbs is full of wisdom, and the Gospels are too; you can find an answer for just about any situation, and if you really distill your particular situation down to it’s core question, you will find guidance. There’s even more though; we have an inherent knowledge of right and wrong, and it’s part of God’s General Revelation.
If you want to be an individual of integrity, turn to the Lord and let Him guide your steps!
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25 Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet;
then all your ways will be sure.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil. (ESV)
Let Us Do Good
It’s so easy to reach a point where you’re fading isn’t it?
Where the pull of the distractions of the world grows too strong, or you’re just tired of doing what you know is right.
And sometimes, you just want to be you for a little bit.
Yea, that’s going to happen, we are human after all! What’s more important is how you react to the situation. On one hand you can fully embrace your ‘human side’ and turn inward, away from Christ, and on the other, you can rest in the loving arms of a God who cares.
The Bible really does give us examples of how to deal with nearly every situation that may arise. God knows you’re going to get tired; 
He knows that this world will wear on you, so being the loving Father that He is, He’s written to us, He’s given us instructions on how to deal with that.
In the beginning of , Paul is encouraging the people of the churches of Galatia to support each other and to encourage them to treat others, especially their brothers, with respect and good will. We are called to ‘do good things,’ it’s a reflection of Christ in us (), and when we feel that desire drifting away, it’s either the world or ourselves getting in the way. Take every opportunity to do a good thing; let that driver who ran all the way up the median merge at the last minute, hold the door open for a few seconds longer, assume the best when someone does something you feel is insulting or impolite, or simply be there when a brother needs you.
It is, after all, what Christ would do.
9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
– [ESV]
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6:1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load.
6 One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen. (ESV)
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (ESV)
9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (ESV)
Trust in God’s Timing
God’s Timing is impeccable.
Mordi was in a rough spot. Sure, his niece had just been made the Queen of the land, and the King was quite pleased with her, but there was this other bloke who was a little upset that Mordi hadn’t bowed to his image; he, Mordi, believed that no man should have a higher status than his God. The king had lifted this other guy, Ham, as we’ll call him for now, over the other officials, and enacted an edict that he was indeed a person of power. In those days, it was customary to bow to royalty and those of a status higher than yours (heck, it still is, really), so when Mordi decided that he wasn’t going to bother with this, bowing to a man, Ham became enraged.
Haman (his real name), possibly knowing that he probably couldn’t get away with outright killing Mordi (or, perhaps, purely out of spite), instead plotted for a way to kill all the people in the kingdom that shared his same lineage. He hatched his plan, went to the king, and got it approved without the king really knowing what it was that Haman had intended. When he found out what was about to happen, Mordecai (Mordi’s real name) was devastated – he sat in front of the king’s court wailing and wearing sackcloth and ashes, which is an ancient way of showing grief, sorrow, or misery.
Mordecai continued to refuse to bow or ‘tremble’ before Haman, and this made him even angrier. He got together with his family, and came up with a plan to have Mordecai hanged the next morning. Funny thing is, though, at that very time, the King was reviewing the kingdom’s ledger of awesome people – people who had done some great service to the king – and noticed that even though Mordecai had saved his life some years back – he had never been rewarded. The next morning, as Haman entered the court to deliver the final blow in his plan to have Mordecai hanged, the king asked him how a man of valor should be treated… and when Haman, thinking the king could mean none other than he, replied that he should be adorned with riches, and paraded around the city. And that’s exactly what the king had Haman do for Mordecai.
God has a funny way of making things fall into place – it’s not always what we want, or how we want it; it’s not even always what we would consider good. But His timing is incredible and He takes care of His children.
The content of this article is based on .
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6:1 On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king. 2 And it was found written how Mordecai had told about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 3 And the king said, “What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” The king’s young men who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.” (ESV)
The Importance of Community
Community is important; it’s a part of who we are; what we were created to be.
“It seems that we humans were designed to find our purpose and meaning not simply in ourselves and our own inner lives, but in one another and in the shared meanings and purposes of a family, a street, a workplace, a community, a town, a nation. When we describe someone as a “loaner,” we’re not necessarily saying the person is bad, simply that he or she is unusual”
-N.T. Wright, “Simply Christian”
When was the last time you read Acts? Sorry – that may have come off as a bit accusatory – I certainly didn’t mean it that way. Let’s try that again! Have you read the book of Acts? Is it’s material fresh on your mind? Quick – what’s the number one… theme from the work? What’s a major concept that runs through the work?
There are a few, and it’s probably a little difficult to nail down just one theme. I apologize, should I have made you uncomfortable with not knowing so readily what that theme might have been. One of the larger concepts of the book, though, is community.
The early church was a lot of things: kind of a mess, confused (they did just witness their leader float up through some clouds, after all),
and a little disorganized; but they stuck together; they did everything together. They broke bread, prayed, ate, slept, gathered and sold their possessions, and took care of everyone as he had need (). They did life together. They were as one body.
That’s not to say that they were perfect – Ananias and Sapphira’s () shady dealings should be a fairly clear example of that – but they were always a part of each other’s lives. They lived in community with each other, their doors were open to others, and they moved as one, with one singular focus: To tell the world who it was that saved them.
Are your doors open? Is your life yours, or does it belong to someone else?
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45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. (ESV)
5:1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.
7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. (ESV)