By Emi Iwanaga
“When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him,
he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.
A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume.
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.”
Luke 7:36-38 NIV
IN HIS PRESENCE
Goodness
She had heard Him speaking, interacting with others.
This prompted her to go to him, taking that alabaster of perfume.
With determination she drew near, ignoring those judgmental eyes.
Now, ever so close, she knelt at his feet.
Overwhelmed by His worthiness and her sinfulness.
With bowed head, tears flowed, spontaneously.
Realistically fulfilling a need, with heart-felt tears, washing.
with her personal resources, drying.
Moreover with a fountain of kisses, worshiping.
That fixation, sacrifice, action, sacrifice,
Sinfulness turned to pure goodness.
Such goodness needn’t be mustered up, one shouldn’t even try.
Rather, seek, draw near
for surely in his presence
Goodness flows in and through.
Kneeling before Him, the power of His presence
Consumes, transforms.
It’s a perfect love story.
Emi Iwanaga served thirteen years as a missionary in Amazon Valley in Brazil, over 20+ years as a children’s ministry director, women’s ministry director, and pastor’s wife, and is currently a spiritual director.
aawolsisters.com 
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