Pastor Wayne Cordeiro
March 3, 2002 - W0209

ìAnd behold, there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He wasÖin the Phariseeís house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet, and anointing them with the perfumeî (Luke 7:37-38).

Though this woman felt so completely unworthy, she didnít allow her feelings of unworthiness to disqualify her from pouring out her affection upon the Lord. Sometimes we too sense our own unworthiness. However, we should never allow those feelings to prevent us from expressing our love for the One who is worthy.

The story of the woman with the alabaster vial is also an example of Jesusí magnificent compassion and forgiveness. He never slams the door on us no matter how far weíve fallen away from Him. Because Jesus is the door, and because He never leaves us or forsakes us, it doesnít matter how far youíve fallen, coming home will always be one step away.

To those who donít know Jesus, it can sometimes seem that God endorses sin by allowing people to do anything they want. On the contrary, God never compromises. Rather, His grace is so special that He will embrace a person with their sin until that sin disappears. Thatís the kind of love our Father has for us. He doesnít compromise the sin, but he does embrace the sinner.

A friend once shared a touching story of being caught in a web of pornography that nearly destroyed his life, his marriage, and his family. When he finally shared what was going on with the pastor of his church, he expected to be utterly rejected from the congregation. The pastor instead grabbed hold of him, embraced him, and just wouldnít let go. He remembers hearing the pastor crying on his shoulder until he felt warm tears running down his neck. My friend said he never felt the love and acceptance of the Father like he did in that moment. A turning point happened in his life: healing began and deliverance happened; not because of an iron fist or a pointed finger, but because of the all-encompassing embrace of the Father.

If you know the grace of God, you know that He doesnít bend the rules, He enlarges His heart to embrace you. There will be times when you donít think you measure up. But we serve a God who loves us even though He knows everything about us.

Question 1: Have you ever experienced that all-encompassing embrace of your Father? Share with your group how it changed your life. If you have not experienced that kind of love and are longing and needing His embrace, ask the Lord to help you examine this area. Is there something that might be holding you back from experiencing that embrace?

The entry was and always will be through the servantís entrance. Letís see how genuine serving will help you gain confidence in a shaky world.

Genuine ServingÖ

1. WILL ALWAYS BE THE POINT OF ENTRY.

ìNow when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, ì If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, she is a sinnerî (Luke 7:39).

Those around Jesus saw a sinner, but Jesus saw a servant who entered the Kingdom at the foot of the table. Her serving expressed the impact forgiveness had on her life. The same happened in Peterís life after he denied Jesus. Look at Jesusí response:

ìSimon son of John, do you love Me more than these?î He said to Him, ìYes Lord; You know that I love You.î He said to him, ìTend My lambsî (Jn 21:15). (See also Lk. 14:8-11)

Notice that Jesus didnít ask Peter about his performance. He confronted Peter about his heart, ìDo you love Me?î You see, Jesusí forgiveness had such a tremendous impact that Peter was able to serve out of a heart that understood how great Godís love really is.

Likewise, Jesus confronts us where we are right nowónot where we were yesterday or where weíll be next year. Where is your heart now? Do you love Him? Then serve. Why? Because, as Jesus says in Luke 22, ìI am among those who serve.î If you want to get close to the Father, start at the foot of the table because thatís where He is. Serving is the point of entry.

Question 2: Is your heart being poured out into what you are doing? Explain how serving has been, or might be, the point of entry for you into the Kingdom.

So the first step to genuine serving will always be at the point of entry. Secondly, genuine servingÖ

2. EXPRESSES THE IMPACT THAT FORGIVENESS HAS HAD ON MY LIFE.

Jesus knew that the woman understood the depth of what it meant to be forgiven. And because she caught the heart of a loving, forgiving Father, she responded in kind by serving.

ìFor this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves littleî (Luke 7:47).

Jesus was telling Simon, ìLook at how she loves! Look at the love with which she serves now.î That same thing happens in our lives, where our ability to love will be impacted by how much we recognize that weíve been forgiven. Forgiven people have a certain dimension to their lives: a depth of gratefulness as a response to being forgiven. But even though the expression of love and gratefulness may not be in the most dignified manner, what matters to God is not necessarily the deed, but rather the heart behind that deed because:

The deed is simply the container for my heart.

ìGod sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks as the heart.î (1 Sam. 16:7)

What I do is simply the container for my heart. It wonít matter how much I polish up the outside because if my deed is without heart, then the container is empty. So donít be so concerned with what people think! The Father is more concerned with how much of your heart is being poured into what you are doing. He delights in a servant who does the best they can with all their heart!

Question 3: In what ways do you express your understanding of His forgiveness for you? What is the ìcontainerî of your heart as itís poured out in acts of service?

Finally, genuine servingÖ

3. IS ALWAYS GREATER THAN FORMALITY.

God doesnít want us to wait for a formal invitation or a program before we start to serve. Just start serving! People who understand the forgiveness thatís been granted to them tend to serve with all their hearts just because they need to give in any way they can.

When you understand that you desperately need Godís forgiveness in this day as much as the day you got saved, then there will be a distinctive depth to your love. Your compassion and commitment will be unrivaled because you understand how much you continue to be forgiven.

The Bible says, ìWe love because He first loved us.î God loves us unconditionally and when you catch how much He loves and cares for you, you will be transformed. Serving then becomes an expression of understanding, love, and gratefulness for His love and forgiveness.

Jesus made His decision over two thousand years ago when He died for our sins and He awaits your reply. Will you say yes to Him?

Question 4: Have you ever strayed or do you find yourself straying away from God? If so what specific thing did you do or will do to get to the point of entry?

Question 5: Is there one thing you learned from the lesson that you can apply to your life today? How will you be different because of it?

Summarized by Rhonda Pang