My passion for the Lord is obvious. Since being born again in October 2000, my desire to serve God has been at the forefront of my life. Through the holy spirit I embrace discipleship and through this ministry, I am blessed to be a blessing to one and all.
This week in my study of the gospel of the apostle Luke, I felt inspired to share scripture in tune with my own spiritual rebirth based on repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
“36 Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38 and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, 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.” 40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. 41 “Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:36-50)
The woman in the verses above is aware she is guilty of grave sin against God. She is also humbled before the Lord and as she bowed to His feet, she wept just as I did when I came face to face with the glory of Jesus Christ in 2000. Before I was saved, my sin seperated me from God.
At age 35, I had heard of Jesus before. Raised Catholic I was baptized as an infant, studied the bible in school, had first communion and even attended church a few times a year but I did not know Christ and certainly had not accepted Him as my Lord and savior.
I lived a life of selfish disobedience until I felt God’s grace wash over me as I shed tears of shame mixed with tears of joy on that October day at Saddleback church in California. Comforted by the warmth of God’s eternal love, I confessed my sins and I was forgiven just as the woman was in the verses above.
My debt to God was great, and my love for Jesus Christ is indeed in direct proportion to the depth of my previous life of sinfulness. I not only feel indebted to God, I feel undeserving of the opportunities brought on to me. Driven by the conviction I am on a mission from God, I continue to serve the Lord with all that I am, and all that He has blessed me with.
How large is your debt to the Lord? Are you more like the man that owed fifty denarii or five hundred? Is your love for Jesus Christ lukewarm or does it burn like a bond fire? Knowing that we can in no way repay God for our sins because of the work of Jesus on the cross, we are privledged to live our lives following the ways of the Lord and sharing the good news with others.
Have you the marks of a servant of God? These are the elements of God’s faithful children: Gratitude, repentance, tears of joy, worship, the desire to serve, to be intimate with God and most importantly, the humility brought on by glorifying God through your works.
The church community is littered with too many lukewarm Christians which I refer to as “pew riders”. Sitting in church one hour each week, these people in your fellowship may be the ones who need to be refreshed by the passion of a Christian who’s on fire for the Lord!
“31 When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.” (Matthew 25-31-33)
My passion and devotion can be seen, heard and felt by those around me. I walk happily among the Lord’s sheep and urge you to do the same knowing where God leads, He feeds, and where He guides, He provides.
I invite you to call on this ministry for ways you can feed your spiritual fire that burns for the Lord and for the mission He has for your life. Call on us for prayer, for counseling and guidance that will take you to the narrow path that leads to eternal life in heaven. Let’s pray!
Father God;
We praise you for your Grace and for your blessings in our lives
For your guidance, your patience and for your ever present love,
We ask you to fill us with gratitude, humility and the desire to worship
As we continue to serve you and fulfill our mission.
Lord we pray that you will continue to look after us
And provide for us all we need in this life,
We pray that you will spread your light onto our friends,
Our families and all those who seek you.
God we ask that you put us to work for you
Because of the relationship we want with you,
And the relationships we want in our lives.
Thank you Lord father for all that surrounds us!
Praise God,
Amen!
This message was written by Daniel St.Pierre
Email: DanielStPierre@ThriveThroughChrist.com
