Love at First Sex? Finding Purity in a Sex-Crazed WorldSample

The Woman at His Feet (repentance)

The woman we find at Jesus’ feet in Luke 7:36, is the woman I most closely relate to in scripture. She was known in town to be a sinner, possibly a prostitute. Now I was never a prostitute, but I was and continue to be a sinner.

This woman had obviously heard about Jesus, and when she learned that He was in town at Simon the Pharisee’s house, she marched right in and began crying at His feet. She realized her depravity and His holiness. She kissed His feet and wiped them with her hair and anointed His feet with sweet perfume.

Jesus saw her heart at this moment, but Simon did not. He began judging them both in his heart, so Jesus started into a story that would put things in perspective for him.

Jesus spoke about two people- one who owed a little money and one who owed a lot. The one who loaned the money decided to forgive both the debts. Jesus asked “which of them will love him more?” Simon correctly responded with “the one he forgave more.”

Next, Jesus pointed out all the customary things that Simon neglected to do when He arrived: you did not clean My feet, you greeted Me with no kiss, and you did not anoint My head with oil. This woman had done all of those things for Jesus, and she was just a lowly sinner.

Then Jesus said something so amazing; “Her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much.” It wasn’t because of the physical act of crying and pouring out perfume that He forgave her. At the end of this section, Jesus says, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Jesus saw her heart through her actions. He saw her faith and forgave her. She could not contain her love for Him. Her actions were an overflow from her heart. Now she could truly go in peace because her many sins were forgiven.

It was over three years into my relationship with this guy. We went from sex once in a while, to now everyday. I was depressed. I knew in my heart what we were doing was wrong. I hated myself and him for it. I wanted to stop, but didn’t know how. I ended up in the bathroom crying afterwards for many days in a row. I remember crying there and prayed to God, “I don’t know what to do! I want to stop. I know this is wrong. Please forgive me! What do I do!?”

The next day, I had my answer. I knew that I had to break up with him. It was the only way. Remove the temptation all together. I broke up with him that same day. It was very difficult. We had grown used to only being around each other. He still wanted to hang out with me and be friends. The first time we did, he talked me into sex once again. From that point on, I knew I could never hang around him again, and I didn’t.

If Jesus can forgive the woman at His feet, with a reputation for sinning, surely He can forgive you and I! He saw her heart, just like He saw my heart, just like He will see your heart when you approach Him in prayer and repent.

Don’t worry about the “Simons” who whisper about you, who can’t see your heart. Keep your eyes fixed on the One who really sees you and loves you infinitely. When you do, you will have peace.

The woman’s natural response to being forgiven of EVERYTHING was overflowing love. She used what she had; perfume. I’m using what I have; songs. What do you have to shower Jesus with? All of us have something. Let’s start with obedience and go from there!