When Jesus was invited by one of the Pharisees (religious leader) to eat at his house, there was a woman, who is considered to be a sinner for she was a prostitute, came into the house and began to wash Jesus' feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. She kissed his feet and anointed them with fragrant oil. The Pharisee was very surprised that Jesus let the woman touch her because she was considered unclean and a sinner. It was customary at that time that religious people do not allow sinners to touch them. Jesus saw the sincerity of the woman's heart that she was mourning for her sins and need of forgiveness. Jesus then said to the woman, "Your sins are forgiven...your faith has saved you. Go in peace." (Luke 7:40-50).
The woman realized the magnitude of her sin, and she believed in her heart that Jesus could forgive her sin that she humbled herself at the feet of Jesus. When she washed Jesus' feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair, it was a sign of mourning and humility before the Lord. Jesus said, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." As the woman mourned for her sin, Jesus comforted her by forgiving her. In 2 Corinthians 7:10, it says, "For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death."
When we mourn or feel sorrow for the sins that we have committed, we need to be encouraged that God always forgives us when we humble ourselves to Him and ask for forgiveness. There is no sin that God cannot forgive when we believe in Him. Let us not walk in guilt and shame. Jesus carried our sins and died for them on the cross. He paid the penalty of our sin by his life so that we can be forgiven. God always comforts us when we mourn for our sins.
Ask yourself these questions: Who can forgive my sin? Do I believe that God can forgive all the sins that I have committed? What did Jesus do with my sins on the cross?
Write down all the worries that you are facing today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, please forgive me for all the sins that I have done. I confess all my sins to you, and I thank you that you sent your Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for all my sins. Thank you for forgiving me. Please help me not to walk in guilt and shame anymore because you have forgiven me. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.