In this passage “immoral” implies sexual sin, but this woman could just as easily have been of immoral character – a cheater, liar, a thief, or perhaps someone with no business ethics.  Jesus tells us in verse 47 that her sins “are many.”

This woman enters the party and approaches Jesus – not face to face – but from behind his reclining position.  Overcome with emotion she begins to cry; kneels and allows her tears to wash over the feet of Jesus. There must have been a great deal of tears as she felt the need to unpin her hair to dry his feet.  Then, she opens an elaborate container made of alabaster filled with rare, expensive perfume.  The other guests would have expected her to use such extravagance to anoint the guest of honor’s hair.  Much to their surprise, she pours the perfume on his feet.   

The key to this story is in the parable Jesus tells of someone who loaned 500 pieces of silver to one and to another 50 pieces of silver.  Neither could repay the loans, and both were forgiven the debts.  Jesus then posed the question to Simon:  Which one loved the master more after the loans were forgiven? 

Could it be that the women in this Scripture had come face to face with whom and what she had become and knew how very much she needed something outside of herself to have mercy on her?

Driven by a heart broken by sin, the woman with the alabaster jar sacrificed what was precious to her.  “For this reason I say to you, her sins which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but she who is forgiven little, loves little.” 

I submit that this woman was shaken free from faith that is safe – costing very little at all – to faith that was worth whatever it costs so that she could be in the presence of Jesus. 

Is it then safe to assume that we are to grasp all which has been forgiven us for us to then experience to the same degree of understanding the sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf?  Then are we then free to respond with the same degree of gratitude to the One who sacrificially poured out His blood to pay that price for us?

My challenge: that you be shaken free from faith that is safe – to faith that is worth whatever it costs you – to be in daily communion with God. 

Discussion Questions:

1.   Discuss the challenge:  “that you be shaken free from faith that is safe – to faith that is worth whatever it costs to be in daily communion with God.”

2.   What vial of costly perfume do you need sacrifice in order to be changed by Jesus tonight?

We often get so caught up in the walls of Jericho falling down at the sound of trumpets and shouts of the people of God that we can so easily overlook how a prostitute named Rahab is totally change by God’s grace.  As she watched her city being destroyed, so was her past.  Grace first exposes all that is wrong, which is always uncomfortable – but necessary if Grace is to cover what is wrong with all that is right.  The past is no excuse for an unchanged future.  As Believers, our past is in the shadow of Grace and is – well it is past, gone, left behind us. Rahab’s past did not shape her future and our past does not need to shape our future.

In Chapter 6:25 we see that Grace prepared Rahab with a new place to live.  She had a place within the family of God – as a new creation.  Apparently, Rahab was never the same.  Grace restored what she had given away in her past – her purity. As a restored creation, she married a man named Salmon and gave birth to a son named Boaz. In stark contrast to her reputation in Jericho, as a credit to her good name as a restored woman, she raised a son named Boaz, a man of great integrity.  You can read about Boaz in the book of Ruth.  He, Ruth, and his mother, Rahab are all direct descendants of Jesus Christ.  See Matthew 1:5 -6 and 17.

If you are saved by Grace, the question to you is:  Have you been changed by Grace?  To be saved by Grace is to experience Jesus coming to take you out of your past, covering you, protecting you with His great mercy.  But to be saved by Grace is only the beginning.  From that moment on we are called to live in the family of God, as restored creatures, with new identities.  Read Ephesians 1:3-4 and 4:21-24 and 5:1-5.  Our inheritance is explained in more detail in Ephesians 1:7 &11,13 and 14. 

Our inheritance is not our past or what our past would naturally produce.  Rahab did not wear a “scarlet letter” on her chest for the rest of her life; she never had to consider her past again.  We need no longer dwell on what has been covered.  Rather we are to live out of our inheritance.  By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are to live the life God created for us to live. How, you say?  By faith.  Hebrews 11:6; 30-31 and James 2:25.  Rahab exercised faith that God was who He said He was, that He had power to change her.  From that moment on she walked in Grace – in confidence, changed by the God that graced her life. 

Would you be changed by Jesus?  Would you exchange your past for your life as a new creature?  The power of Jesus, risen from the dead, that same power is able to change you – be changed by Jesus!

Discussion Questions:

1.  What keeps you from allowing your defenses to come tumbling down

2.  What immediate change would you like to see Jesus make in your life?

Pray for the Holy Spirit to expose and then cover the past; to empower and transform our future.

God had a purpose for Esther’s life and He has purpose for our lives as well.  No other queen could have done what Esther did in this story.  Last week we saw that God did not need Sarai, Abraham or Hagar’s help and concluded that God does not need our help either.  Instead, it is our  privilege as Believers to be invited by God to participate in what He is already doing.  Such an invitation by God to participate in what He is doing requires two responses from us – are we willing and will we be obedient?

Consider when Esther was taken to the king’s harem, she did not enter a beauty contest with the idea in mind that she would wear a crown.  She was taken from her home, without regard to her dreams for the future.  She was jerked from that which felt safe into a world for which she had no reference or desire.  Esther had to be willing to see what God had in mind.  Later in the story, Esther considered the implications of her approaching the King without him first summoning her.  If he refused to receive her, she would be put to death.  Her response to that possibility was “if I die, I die.”  What might God’s purpose for you cost:  your reputation; the severing of family ties; loss of friends; adjustment of priorities?  The first step in discovering your God-give purpose is that you be willing to accept that purpose just as it is presented to you.  To be willing implies that one set aside personal will.

After establishing that one is willing, comes obedience.  Esther found herself in a very awkward position.  Yet, by her accepting Hegai’s counsel, it appears that she was more than willing; she took action to see what God had in mind for her future.   I bet you know people who have great intentions for great things that never get around to doing those great things.  Those people are willing, but not obedient.  God’s purpose for your life requires you be willing and obedient.    Being willing is surrender or acceptance of your purpose – being obedient is making all the necessary sacrifices to live out that purpose.   Obedience requires a sacrifice that will change us from the inside out, causing us to dig deep into the power of the Holy Spirit to produce whatever it takes for obedience.  Obedience is taking action to fulfill your purpose on this earth which is to bring glory to God.

When Mordecai requested that she plea the case of her people before the king, Esther was understandably fearful.  To approach the king without his summons was very risky.  Coming face to face with our purpose may produce fear and uncertainty within.  Perhaps we don’t feel worthy or qualified or skilled enough to do the job.  Maybe our past gets in the way of our future.  Such willingness and obedience takes a leap of faith.  Just like Esther, we will not always know the end result of our obedience when we are called to a task. Remember that faith does not always see the path clearly, but it never doubts that God is clearing the path.  Take your step of faith by first being willing to embrace your God-given task and second by following with obedience.  Who knows whether you have not attained the position you find yourself in – for such a time as this.

Discussion Questions:

1. Discuss the difference between being willing and being obedient.
2. What task do you think God is giving you right now that require your willingness and your obedience?  What keeps you from embracing the task and obey God’s call?

Read Genesis 16

Having experienced rejection at one time or another, I am sure we can all identify with Hagar, a woman cast aside.  Hagar may have been a part of the bargain Abram received while he was in Egypt – Genesis 12:16.  She could have been born into a position of servanthood or perhaps sold to Sarai by her own parents.  Those details we don’t know, but we do know that childless Sarai determined to help God out so He could make good on His promise to her husband.  Hagar didn’t seem to have much or any say about the situation; she was a servant and servants did as they were told.

The next time you and I think we need to help God out, remember three things:

#1 – No matter what God promises, how long it takes for God to answer a prayer, or how discouraged we may be as we wait, God does not need our help.  When we act in the flesh to assist God, we actually may prolong a situation.  Consider it was 13 years more before the child that God promised came to Abram and Sarai.  Jacob lived 25 years in exile, because he helped God out by tricking Isaac to get his father’s blessing.  Moses tended sheep 40 years in the desert after he tried to help God out by murdering an Egyptian before his ministry began to take shape.  It is much better to receive God’s help than to try to help Him out with our own misguided efforts.  This particular act of the flesh did not turn out so well.  Vs. 5-6 tells us Hagar’s contempt for Sarai was displayed with inappropriate comments and behavior.  Sarai blamed the whole mess on Abram and Abram seems to turn a bad situation even worse by instructing Sarai to “deal with her (Hagar) as you see fit.”  As is so often the case, our sin complicates every situation.  And in the end, God really does not need our help.

#2 – Get all the God you can out of every circumstance.  I can only imagine the questions Hagar must have asked: Does my life matter?  Does anyone care for me?  What about my feelings?  Am I to give my body to an old man I don’t really know?  Does God care for me?  Confused and desperate, Hagar ran away from her problems – see verses 6(b)-9.  She could run, but she couldn’t hide from God.  He was there and His instruction to Hagar was clear:  go back to a difficult situation and submit to your master’s authority.  You might have noted that God sends Hagar back with a promise of her own in verses 10-12.  Her child would also become a great nation and indeed Ishmael does father 12 tribes that would be called the Ishmaelites.  Hagar submitted to God by returning to the very situation she had fled – to get all the God she could out of that circumstance.

#3 God sees what we cannot see.  Verses 13&14 give us one of many names of God: El-Roi, which means “the God that sees what we cannot see.”  And so even though Hagar could not see it at the time, what God could see was revealed to her as she returned and submitted to God’s authority through her owners. Read Genesis 21:9-21.  As the story continues, Sarah has a son of her own and Ishmael, a young “donkey of a man” lashes out at Isaac with teasing, harsh words, and scoffing.  And so Hagar is cast aside!! Again!  Cast away from the father of her son!  Cast away from home!  Cast away from a wealthy family with only sparse provisions!  Starving and in great despair, Hagar leaves her son by a tree thinking he would die there.   When we are in the middle of a fire, it is hard to see outside the flames.  In those times, we may need to look backwards and be reminded of what God has so faithfully done for us.  In verse 18, God reminds Hagar of his promise to her the last time she was cast aside into the desert.  Often when we are reminded of God’s faithfulness to us, we can then see what was there all along.  Verse 19 says God opened Hagar’s eyes to see what He already could see – His provision for her (verses 20 & 21).  Are your eyes wide open to see God’s provision for you?

Discussion Questions:

1. Think back on a time when you tried to help God out.  How did that work out for you?
2. Which of the three points do you have the most trouble with:  God does not need our help? Get all the God you can out of every circumstance? God sees what we cannot see?  And why do you think that is?

Jesus is the beginning of change.  The moment we encounter Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we change, perhaps in our thought-life, in our behavior, or in a new hunger for His Word.

Jesus is in the middle of change.  While some changes are immediate, most are changes made in this process we call transformation.  Transformation is a sweet, but sometime difficult process.  Change is often uncomfortable and less than welcomed by us.

However, the end result is that we become more and more a reflection of God’s glory.  Read 1 Corinthians 15:50-58.  Our hope is that one day – we will be changed, completely changed in body, soul, and spirit – into the likeness of our risen Christ.

This semester in PURSUIT you will become acquainted with different women of the Bible who will let us peek into their lives to see how they were and we can be Changed by Jesus.  If you want to follow along with us with the homework throughout the week, the book by Dana Grubb is available in the Community Bible Church Bookstore.  As we journey together, if in the process you come face to face with Jesus, I promise you this:  you too will be Changed by Jesus.

Discussion Questions:

1. What has been the biggest change in your life so far – since knowing Jesus as your Lord and Savior?
2. What would you change about yourself if you could?

James 1:25 “But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.”  Max goes on to say that most often you will experienced God’s blessing when you push through a spiritually dry time by staying in touch with God in prayer and reading His Word.

Discussion Questions:

1. How do you push through a time of spiritual dryness or lack of fire for God – especially when you don’t feel like it?
2. What blessings have you experienced as a result of your efforts?

Written by Martha Fisher 03/13/1998

Copyrighted 03/06/2008

I love new beginnings-

New years with clean

new calendars;

Days to be filled with

new challenges,

new goals,

new activities.

I love new beginnings-

New jobs

 with a desk full of papers,

new names,

new prospects,

new ambitions.

I love new beginnings-

New cities

with boxes of my stuff inside of a

new house,

new friends,

new hopes and dreams.

I love new beginnings-

New chances

to wipe the slate clean and start again;

new commitments,

new apologies,

new forgiveness.

I love new beginnings-

New hearts before our God where

He remembers No More

our mistakes and our battles not won.

New relationship with

the One who is

New every morning;

New hope for a bright Forevermore;

New peace that withstands

the battle of life.

I love new beginnings.