Daily Devotional for Monday, July 27, 2020 The Upper Room

Daily Devotional for Monday, July 27, 2020

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Monday, 27 July 2020 

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR MONDAY, JULY 27, 2020

Smallest Acts by Lin Daniels (Massachusetts, USA)

READ LUKE 7:36-50 36 One of the P’rushim invited Yeshua to eat with him, and he went into the home of the Parush and took his place at the table. 37 A woman who lived in that town, a sinner, who was aware that he was eating in the home of the Parush, brought an alabaster box of very expensive perfume, 38 stood behind Yeshua at his feet and wept until her tears began to wet his feet. Then she wiped his feet with her own hair, kissed his feet and poured the perfume on them.

39 When the Parush who had invited him saw what was going on, he said to himself, “If this man were really a prophet, he would have known who is touching him and what sort of woman she is, that she is a sinner.” 40 Yeshua answered, “Shim‘on, I have something to say to you.” “Say it, Rabbi,” he replied. 41 “A certain creditor had two debtors; the one owed ten times as much as the other. 42 When they were unable to pay him back, he canceled both their debts. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Shim‘on answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” “Your judgment is right,” Yeshua said to him.

44 Then, turning to the woman, he said to Shim‘on, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house — you didn’t give me water for my feet, but this woman has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair! 45 You didn’t give me a kiss; but from the time I arrived, this woman has not stopped kissing my feet! 46 You didn’t put oil on my head, but this woman poured perfume on my feet! 47 Because of this, I tell you that her sins — which are many! — have been forgiven, because she loved much. But someone who has been forgiven only a little loves only a little.” 48 Then he said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” 49 At this, those eating with him began saying among themselves, “Who is this fellow that presumes to forgive sins?” 50 But he said to the woman, “Your trust has saved you; go in peace.”

As [a woman who lived a sinful life] stood behind [Jesus] at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. (LUKE 7:38 (NIV))

Shortly before I retired from 40 years of teaching physical education, a young student gave me a red pipe cleaner, roughly shaped like a heart. I attached it to my clipboard as a reminder of his thoughtfulness. Several years later, it’s still there. Whenever I look at that irregularly-shaped heart, I smile.

Sometimes I wonder if God looks at our offerings of love that way. God — the source and giver of all love — could perfectly do anything that we do for God. But I suspect that God delights in even our smallest acts of love.

Throughout scripture, Jesus commends any display of love for him. Jesus praised Mary’s devotion as she listened attentively at his feet. (See Luke 10:38-42.) Upon spotting Zacchaeus’ determination to see him, Jesus asked to share a meal with him. (See Luke 19:1-10.) Jesus affirmed the love of the woman who kissed and anointed his feet. Jesus accepted love, no matter how it was shown.

Whether we give our love by praising God, stopping to admire creation, or helping someone in need, we can offer all we have and all we are to God and graciously respond to those who show us love in big or small ways.

TODAY'S PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for showing us how to love others. Help us to share your love with the world. Amen.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: God teaches me how to give and receive love.

PRAYER FOCUS: Those struggling to accept love

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