There are passages in the Bible that impact me so completely that I marvel. One of these is a story from Jesus' ministry - it's a story of worship, adoration, faith and sensitivity. Frankly, I'm not real comfortable with this story because it speaks to me so completely, so thoroughly (and the church today as a whole, I think) that I feel a need to change... Maybe you'll want to change, too.
The story is found in Luke 7:36; it's about a good churchgoer and a woman with a bad reputation. Setting: Simon, a Pharisee (the 'good churchgoer') has invited Jesus into his home for a meal. While intrigued by Jesus' reputation (His miracles, teachings, etc.), Simon isn't quite sure if Jesus is the real deal - he figures a little private time will tell the tale. So Jesus comes into Simon's home and isn't treated the best; certain opportunities for respect were withheld pending later approval. Then a woman comes into the room - and she goes way beyond protocol in showing her admiration and love for Jesus: But remember; she has a bad reputation. Meanwhile, Simon is observing Jesus calmly receiving the highly unusual, loving adoration of this sinful woman ("...her sins, which are many...") and he thinks, '...if Jesus was really all that - he wouldn't take this kind of worship from this woman!'
Now the story is really driven home by Jesus! 'Simon, he says, 'you haven't been the best host. You didn't offer me several courtesies that you could have. This woman (bad reputation and all) has done far more than any would have expected (she did even more than you should have) - so she gets her sins forgiven. And her faith gets her saved.' And Jesus just might have added, 'You get nothing because you did so little - and with such a pious attitude'.
Ouch! The application really hurts!! I've left some church services (this is where we usually 'host Jesus', right?) and felt like I received so little. In retrospect, I didn't give a lot in those services, either. Like Simon, when I come to observe it seems I won't leave with much gained. And what of the woman in this story? If you look at the passage her worship (that's how we treat Jesus in public) was extravagant - and so was her blessing! This isn't the only time we see this in the Bible but notice: Unusually strong worship often equals unusually strong blessing.
In public worship (I find this story to be such a good example) should we follow the dictate of common courtesy; nothing extravagant, nothing unusual, nothing out of the ordinary? After all the Bible does say, "Let everything be done decently and in order." Or should our worship be heartfelt, vibrant and solely concerned with giving Jesus our best? I guess it depends if you want the blessing of Simon or the woman. Simon's treatment of Jesus was a bit cool but certainly defensible (by some) and he didn't get much from it. The woman (out of the ordinary, way beyond the norm, almost never duplicated) got a blessing that was so far above the norm that, well, her her blessing matched her actions; both were extraordinary!
Are you tired of leaving church the same as you came? Do you go to church sick and leave the same way? Do you go to church depressed and leave the same way? Do you go to church bored and leave the same way? Simon didn't get much from his encounter with Jesus, either. The woman, on the other hand (and "...she was a sinner..."), had her sins forgiven and was saved!
Maybe it's time we examine ourselves; if we offer Jesus little like Simon we'll get little in return. If we offer new and sacrificial, heart-felt adoration to Jesus - we'll get new and better blessings: That's what this story is here to tell us. Who needs to be extravagant in their worship? Only those who have been received something from God - and that is every one of us!
I remember a man (a well-off businessman, actually) once telling me of a church service he attended. He was late (from his work) and as he entered the church the presence of God really overwhelmed him. He stopped just inside the sanctuary (extended prayer was going on) and he bowed his head. Then he felt this wasn't enough so he knelt humbly in the aisle on his knees. And then he said he heard a voice say simply to him, 'Lower'. And so he prostrated himself completely on the floor of that church - he laid down in the aisle way. We may examine that and say, 'That's a bit much - laying fully on the floor in the aisle way of church when a service is going on!' That's just the attitude that Simon would take in our Bible story. Have you ever noticed the 'four and twenty elders' in the book of revelation? Almost every time they're mentioned (every time but one, I believe) they are 'falling on their face (laying down)' before the Lord. Yes; they are in Heaven. But maybe it's time to incorporate a little more heavenly worship in our services? Maybe it's time we break out of our usual worship and find an unusual blessing? Just praise Him according to what He's worth as the Psalmist said we should that would mean give Jesus your best because that's what He's worth; yes, give Him your best!
I recall preaching in Houston once; afterward there was a good time of prayer around the altar. As I was walking around praying for people this guy stood up and greeted me. My first response was, "What a mess!" - he really looked strange. He was crying, and I mean crying hard. Tears had run down his cheeks and his eyes were red, his face was puffy and then he said, "Jon - that was a great message!" And my first thought was, 'Does this guy know me?' He was an old friend I hadn't seen in years and years; he was a really cool guy - tall, good looking, reserved - but now he's crying, his face is splotchy; he's a mess. And he tells me, 'I really wound up far from God; but He's forgiven me! I'm part of the church again!' Simon would probably say, 'You look a mess; clean your face up and quit crying, man up!' But our Bible story tells it like is; to whom much is forgiven - much is owed. My friend felt like God had forgiven him of great sin and his worship and devotion to God, at least that night, was first rate. Like the Bible story, 'to whom much was forgiven much was owed'; and my friend was paying up.
So now you know why this Bible passage really bothers me; because I find in it a need to make serious improvement in my worship. It makes me want to leave my comfort zone and host Jesus with new and startling, heartfelt love even if others watch in disdain (this would be a complete application of our Bible passage). It makes me want to go the second mile, to ignore others around me doing less and to give nothing less than my best to Jesus - because He is worthy. Perhaps, like the woman in the story, this passage will make us do what others around us should be doing themselves: Hosting Jesus to the very best of our ability.
For more information on Jonathan please visit his little spot on the web, http://www.JonathanMilam.com
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