There are two realms in our relationship with God: The realm of law; and the realm of love. As a Christian, you can decide to function under the law, or you can decide to walk in love. The realm of law is the realm of carrying out exhaustive calculations before tithing to God. It’s the realm of doing intricate mathematics before giving to God. But the realm of love is the realm of generosity. It is the realm of cheerful giving – which God loves. It’s the realm of worship.
During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. He recovered all the goods, and brought back his relative, Lot, and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.
After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High who delivered your enemies into your hand.’ Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
The king of Sodom said to Abram, ‘Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.’ But Abram said to the king of Sodom, ‘I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath that I will accept nothing belonging to you; not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me – to Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. Let them have their share.’”
~Genesis 14: 15-24
Abraham was a worshiper. Abraham first gave God a tenth of everything he got from the battle before dividing the rest between his friends and the king of Sodom. This is how you know worshipers – they walk in love. They don’t walk in the realm of mathematics.
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, 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…
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. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.”
~Luke 7:37-38
This woman’s actions definitely don’t show a mere observance of the cultural practice of that time; they show worship. She was a worshiper. Jesus’ rebuke of His host, Simon, tells us the requirements of the law. According to the law, you’re supposed to provide water to wash the feet of your guest. But the woman washed Jesus’ feet with her tears.
Tears certainly cost more than water!
You can imagine how long it would take to get a bucket of tears. It’s easier to get a bucket of water than to get a cup of tears. People who love don’t wash with water; they wash with tears.
Furthermore, according to the law, you should use a towel to wipe the feet of your guest. But the woman used her hair. The bible says that the hair of a woman is her glory.
“…But that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering.”
~1Corinthians 11:15
Yet, this woman out of her love for God worshiped Him with her hair. The realm of the law is the realm of towel. But in the realm of love, you use your hair.
In Christ, we are not under the law. We walk in love; we walk in worship.
Memory Verse:
~Luke 7:37-38
“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, 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.”Prayer:
Lord, help me to walk in the realm of love and worship in all my dealings with You. May my daily choices reflect love, worship, and allegiance to You, in Jesus’ name. Amen.