In Luke chapter 7 we hear a story of a woman, a sinful women, that comes to Jesus and cleans and kisses His feet. The Pharisee that asked Jesus to eat at his house (Simon) says in verse 39, "When the Pharisee who invited Him saw this, he said to himself, 'If this man were a prophet, He would know what kind of women is touching Him. She's a sinner!"
We can't let what we have done keep us from knowing Jesus, we must believe in Him and understand the grace He showed all of us by going to the cross while we were sinners. After sharing a story in verses 41-42 (please read) Jesus goes on in verses 44-48 to say, "Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, 'Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn't offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn't greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with her perfume. I tell you, her sins - and they are many - have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love." Then Jesus said to the woman, "Your sins are forgiven."
It is not that we have to be sin free to come to Jesus, it is accepting Him in our heart, and realizing He has taken care of our sins and wants our love. When God transforms our hearts we don't look at others and judge them we look at our lives and our love grows to show our thankfulness for the Grace His has shown to us. The Pharisee was more concerned about the woman being a sinner than the action of love that came to her because she believed. What we need to remember is that God has no favorites, He loves us all and wants us to see what believing in Jesus does for us. She didn't believe and then just sat around, she believed and went into action. When we get comfortable we forget love - we assume it is known - so we don't act. This is big in any relationship we have. We get comfortable and then don't do the same things we did when we were first together.
The Pharisee was comfortable and didn't do the little things for a guest in his house. The woman was in awe and showed her love by doing or expressing her love by her actions. When we put action to our love we are a tool that can be used for God's kingdom. Jesus shares in Luke chapter 6 verse 46, "So why do you keep calling me 'Lord, Lord! when you don't do what I say?" The little things mean a lot and our desires to live out our walk with the Lord shows glory to the Father and grows our hearts. Verse 47 is one of my favorite verses in the bible and says, "I will show you what it's like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it." He wants to show us and I say, lets give Him the chance. Surrendering our will and living a life of love in Christ is what we all need to desire. Amen