When we receive something from someone without seeing our need for it, we tend to be less grateful toward them. We don’t take the gift seriously, and it doesn’t affect our lives as much. A similar result can happen in our relationship with Jesus. He meets us where we are, but if we aren’t in a place where we recognize our need for Him, we can easily brush Him off.

In Luke 7, a woman offered Jesus overwhelming love and appreciation in her thankfulness for His forgiveness. The particular ointment she used could have been sold for the equivalent of three hundred days’ worth of wages—approaching a full-year’s salary! And onlookers were rattled by her actions.

On the other hand, Simon the Pharisee did nothing to welcome Jesus. In fact, he didn’t show any appreciation for Him whatsoever. Sure, he showed a bit of curiosity and respect, but he didn’t see in Jesus what the woman saw. This “righteous” man didn’t recognize his need for Jesus, his need for forgiveness. And because of that, he didn’t go out of his way to show gratitude to Him.

Every single one of us needs what Jesus offers. Regardless of our upbringing and actions, both good and bad, we need Him and the work of salvation and transformation He can do in our lives. Yes, it might be easier for someone who is desperate to truly appreciate Jesus’s forgiveness on a deeper level because they can see how they have been forgiven for so much! But we are all in need of God’s forgiveness and grace, regardless of our position in life. We all should stand back and be sure to recognize and exalt what Jesus has done for us and others.

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Journey with Jesus in Jesus Among Us: Walking With Him in His Ministry and Miracles, the second book in the Life Along the Way series!