a spirit of thankfulness

This season of "Thanksgiving" is always a blessing. Usually because it means that we have the opportunity to enjoy time and fellowship with friends and family. This year however, God has laid on my heart so much more than just the cursory things to be thankful for.

I was reading today from Luke 7.36-50, which recounts the story of Jesus' feet being anointed by "a sinful woman." In short, Jesus is at a dinner party with one of the religious leaders from a town and when this woman hears of his whereabouts she shows up and struck by who He is, she uses her tears to wash his feet, her hair to dry them, and then uses the perfume she has to honor Him. Meanwhile the religious leader watches this all unfold and thinks to himself, if Jesus only knew who this was. Jesus knowing the mans heart uses the opportunity to speak truth into his life about proper attitude of the heart and proper understanding of our position before God. The thing that captures me is Jesus' response to the woman. He forgives her sin... the onlookers saying "Who is this who even forgives sin?"

If you follow Jesus Christ this Thanksgiving season you have so much to be thankful for. No matter who you are, you have sin issues in your life and yet the God of the universe wants to love on you. What if Jesus would have taken up the position of the "spiritual" leader he was dining with? Nothing but condemnation and hatred would have ruled the day. The religious leader would not have been confronted with the reality of his own sin, and the woman would likely have spiraled deeper down into her sinful state.

Rather, Jesus responds with love, compassion, and honor to the simple act of worship. I say "simple" but it really wasn't, it's probably one of the most profound acts of worship that I personally see in the scriptures. It's an act of worship out of the desperation of sin, but also out of the hope of a savior. I can't know the motivations of her heart, but I like to suspect that she saw the beauty of the savior and responded the only way she knew how, not worried about what other people thought. For her, the profound step was probably just summoning up the courage to even enter that house. To stand in the presence of the Almighty, being fully aware of herself, and yet seeking grace. It's beautiful.

Knowing our own selves, have we had the courage to turn ourselves over to the Almighty? Jesus is waiting with open arms, and if we've found His mercy than we have so much to be thankful for. May we celebrate this season with gratitude in our hearts for the merciful king of the universe who loved us enough to provide the way back to Himself.

I am thankful for Jesus Christ and His enduring love. I am thankful that even though I struggle daily to be all that I know He desires for me to be, that He promises to never leave or forsake me. Take time this season to read Philippians 4.4-7 and find a thankful heart.