10 - Asking the Right Question!

Luke 7
38. Going in, she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping, with her tears falling down upon his feet; and she wiped them off with her hair and kissed them and poured the perfume on them..
47. Therefore her sins - and they are many - are forgiven, for she loved me much; but one who is forgiven little, shows little love."
48. And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
49. Then the men at the table said to themselves, "Who does this man think he is, going around forgiving sins?"
50. And Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
(Living Bible)

The other friends of Jesus' host, Simon, were questioning who Jesus thought He was that He had the authority to go around forgiving sins!
Each of us has to decide in our heart and mind who we think Jesus is.

The fact is that He does have the authority to forgive sins, but whether He is able to forgive our sins depends on who we believe He is.

These men didn't think He was anything more than a wonderful Teacher who had worked a few miracles, so He didn't have the ability to forgive their sins.
They had no faith.

But He had the ability to forgive the sins of this woman because she knew that He is God who does have the ability to forgive her sins.
Our faith is what permits the forgiveness of God to be active in our lives, and our lack of faith is what forbids the forgiveness of God from setting us free.

Lack of faith is recognizable: it always asks the wrong questions.
These men asked the wrong question.
Their question should instead have been:
"Jesus, would You be willing to forgive our sins too?"

Faith always gives us the ability to go on in peace.
Everyone wants peace on the inside. Peace begins with telling the truth to yourself and God; knowing that He will not reject you but He will accept you; and believing that when He says that He forgives you, that He does just that.

Have you placed your faith in Jesus?
Then, you have the privilege of going forward with your life in peace!
Praise God!

Prayer:
Father, thank You for Your peace which You have put in my inner person.
Thank You that Your peace allows me to rest in You even when my circumstances are chaotic.
Teach me how to keep Your peace always active inside me,
in Jesus' mighty name I pray,    Amen.