Day 87: Keep it Real!
Author: George W. FlatteryToday’s Scripture: Luke 7:36-50
Central Thought: True humility is the key to correct worship
‘Keep it real!” This is a popular phrase today. Don’t be a phony. Don’t be fake. Someone once said that a hypocrite is someone who complains there is too much immorality and violence on his VCR.
If there is anyone we should keep it real with, it is Jesus. He loved to be around people who were humble and dependent on God. Self-righteousness really bugged Him.
A Pharisee invited Jesus to have dinner with him, a really big deal in those times. A woman who lived a really sinful life heard that Jesus was visiting the Pharisee. The woman took an alabaster jar of perfume, stood behind Jesus at His feet weeping, and began to wet His feet with her tears. Then she wiped His feet off with her hair, kissed them, and poured perfume on them.
When the Pharisee who invited Jesus saw what the woman did, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner” (verse 39).
I can just see Jesus shaking his head at that and saying, ‘Simon, you didn’t offer me a kiss of greeting or wash my feet” (a courtesy extended to guests because sandaled feet got very dirty). ‘You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but this woman gives me heartfelt tears and anoints my feet with expensive perfume.”
God always honors sincere worship. Keep it real! God always gives His grace to those who come humbly to Him. Keep it real! Let God know how you feel. Keep it real!
Some days all I have to offer God are my tears, my faults, and my failures. Yet God always reaches down in recognition of my love for Him and lifts me up and gives me peace in the midst of a storm. I can keep it real with Him!
Devotional Prayer: Father, help me to humble myself before You. Help me to be real in Your presence. Give me Your peace this day as I come before You just as I am, not caring what others may think or say.
Today’s Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 7:1-8:20; Luke 7:36-8:3; Psalms 69:1-18; Proverbs 12:1