In youth group last week we read the story of the sinful woman anointing Jesus’ feet in Luke 7. We see Jesus is reclining at the table of a Pharisee. And a woman who is described in the text as “a woman of the city, who was a sinner” comes to him, weeps at his feet, and anoints them with perfume oil while she wipes them with her hair. We can’t help but ask the question: What happened to this woman to provoke such bizarre actions? We see the answer later in the text. Jesus goes on to say that she loved much, because she was forgiven much.

We then looked at the above graphic. We live in a reality where we are much more sinful than we even perceive ourselves. “Our righteous acts are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). Yet, at the exact same time, we are loved much more than we can perceive. I believe this is what the woman finally realized from Jesus. She realized she was not good, she was not worthy, she was lost, broken, and sinful. And then she realized that she was forgiven of all of that. And she was covered in more love, grace, and mercy than she could even perceive. And she responds appropriately: emotional thankfulness.

Every year we are challenged to be thankful during the Thanksgiving holiday. So, as you dwell on things you are thankful for, please consider my exhortation: Praise the Lord and give thanks for the reality in which you live. You are more sinful than you even perceive. Even your good deeds are but filthy rags. But this God of ours is not who we have reduced Him to in our minds. Because at the same time, you are more loved by him than you will ever know. Your sins have been cast away as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103). What greater thing is there to be thankful for?