One of the most moving stories in the Bible is the moment when Jesus is eating dinner at a Pharisee’s house. A woman — known by all to be a “sinner” — comes into the house, weeping. She washes Jesus’ feet with her tears, kisses his feet, and then anoints them with expensive perfume. The people around him are shocked, and mumble to themselves about how Jesus would not allow her to do such a thing if he really knew her past.
He then tells this parable: “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Luke 7:41-48 (NKJV)
I think of this story often, because I see the love our women have for the Lord when they open their hearts to Him and see his grace toward them. Many of the women here feel unlovable, unworthy. They feel that they can’t possibly be forgiven for their mistakes. And then they see who God is and how deeply He loves them. Because they are forgiven much, they love much. It’s the kind of love that can and does change the world!