Have You Seen His Fingerprints?

~~~ Romans 1:16-25 ~~~ Psalm 19 ~~~ Luke 11:37-41 ~~~

Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside?

Jesus accepts an invitation to dine in the home of a Pharisee.

Pharisees enforced the laws and rules of the day.

It was their job to observe with a very critical eye...

it was expected for them to scrutinize and reprimand 

those not following the rules. 

As soon as Jesus enters into this Pharisee's home 

he breaks a widely prescribed rule...

He does not perform the prescribed 

hand washing before eating. 

This misinformed Pharisee misses the point

 that Jesus is in his house.

He is obsessed with 'the outside' of his cup.

How would any of these rules and laws 

influence your holiness?

What attracts you to a certain glass, cup or mug?

We rarely examine the inside of the cup.

We are more often attracted to the colors

 or the design on the outside.

We usually do not even 

consider the inside.

...they became vain in their reasoning,

and their senseless minds were darkened.

The Pharisees claimed to be wise, but their focus 

on the laws caused them to become vain. 

Their vanity kept them from having the time

 to examine their heart.

Their life was out of balance,

but more importantly their soul was being ignored.

When your priority is out of balance 

too often the outside is what you care most about.

Consider for a moment how God sees you.

To God you appear as a translucent cup.

God sees you as you are inside and outside.

God sees his fingerprints on the outside of your 'cup'

Have you seen his fingerprints from inside?

There is nothing within or without

that you can do to keep what is inside hidden.

God cares more about the inside of you

than your physical appearance.

To God you are a crystal goblet...

An exquisite sparkling cup.

You are a treasure to God...

He created you to be beautiful in all ways.

It is your responsibility to keep

 the crystal cup bright and shining.

If you set your priority to keep the inside of the cup

clean you will be able to see God's 

fingerprints on the outside.

Blessed...

Did not the maker of the outside 

also make the inside?

~~~Peace~~~

Penitent Foot Washing

~~~ 1 Timothy 4:12-16 ~~~ Psalm 111 ~~~ Luke 7:36-50 ~~~

Which of them will love him more?

The Pharisee...Jesus...the weeping woman...
Jesus is dining in the home of a Pharisee
when a woman approaches from behind.
She begins to wash the feet of Jesus with her tears,
kissed his feet, dries them with her hair
and anoints them with oil from her jar.

Who does this in someone else's home?
The Pharisee immediately judges the woman to be a sinner,
but does not offer foot washing to Jesus.
Jesus takes note and turns it into a teachable moment.

The weeping woman treated Jesus with the utmost
reverence, respect, and emotion.

Her actions represented what was hidden in her heart.
She saw the holiness of Jesus and realized her sinfulness.
She realized her need for repentance and forgiveness.

In the presence of Jesus, his holiness reflected back to her
his acceptance of who she really was inside.

She wept tears for the love Jesus extended to her from his heart.

Why did the Pharisee invite Jesus to dinner?
Was he simply trying to make himself look good
either to Jesus or to his peers?

Was he hoping to discover more about Jesus?
Did he want to find out first hand the intentions of Jesus?

The weeping woman already had all the answers she needed.
She had no more concerns, she experienced the real essence of Jesus.

Jesus does not judge or condemn you because of your sinfulness.
Jesus invites you to come closer to him because of your sins.
Jesus never wants our sins to hold us back from coming to him.

"...her many sins have been forgiven;
hence, she has shown great love.
But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little."

Of course this is not giving you permission to go out
and commit as many sins as you can. 

That would defeat the whole purpose of coming
 to Jesus for forgiveness.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
prudent are all who live by it.

Fear of the Lord is not being afraid of his judgment...
fear of the Lord is humbly coming before him
with a contrite heart...
relying on his love, mercy, and compassion...
to be forgiven.

The weeping woman left the house
of the Pharisee a changed woman.
Perhaps the Pharisee was also changed as he pondered
the words Jesus spoke to him.

Repentance is vital to living a fully integrated Christian life.

Forgiveness is at the heart of Christianity.

The weeping woman put aside all of her inhibitions
to seek forgiveness.

Our invitation is to do likewise.
Seek the Blessings of forgiveness as often as possible.

~~~ Peace ~~~