Jan 24

Our faith in Jesus may at first be but a flickering flame, easy to extinguish by the slightest wisp of air. We may be bruised from sin or circumstances or background. Our whole person and being may be a pathetic sight, quite unlike the apparently clean personal environment which the Pharisee presented to Jesus at that meal. We may find ourselves more like the jar-woman. But we can take heart in these words of Scripture:

"A bruised reed he will not break and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out" (Isaiah 42:3).

How had the jar-woman been bruised by life, by those who used her? Likely she had been beaten down, her dignity and pride pounded away, the wick in the lamp of life nearly gone out. Life must have been hard and gray and dull, with no joy--until she heard of this one called Jesus. Had she seen him work miracles before this encounter with him at the meal? Seen him touch lepers and speak words of kindness and forgiveness to others like herself--sinners? Maybe even had a personal encounter with him herself? We don't know.

We do sense, however, in this woman that she herself sensed the awesome love and acceptance of God in Jesus. Perhaps she felt the urge to flee from his holiness and from the disdain and judgment of others at this meal.

But she did not flee. She let the love of God in Jesus draw her to him; she took the risk of the ire of all the others to receive acceptance from the only one who mattered to her. Jesus' love was stronger than her fear and shame.

Scripture for today: Psalm 56:3
Thought for today: God's love for us is stronger than our fear of him.
Prayer for today: Lord, may I ever be afraid of your judgments, but never to the extent that I forget that your love and mercy in Christ are more than sufficient to declare me clean and forgiven in your sight. May I focus on Jesus and the forgiveness I have in him, rather than on my past and my sins. Thank you, Jesus, for making this possible.

JAN 24