Devotion (Luke 7:36-50)
There is only one place in the Gospels where Jesus sees something someone does for Him and calls it beautiful. It's when a socially awkward woman lavishes her devotion on Jesus' feet. In the Gospel of Luke, we read of a similar incident, one that teaches us the kind of response Jesus invites us to have to Him. Service and duty have their place and befit the lofty Son of God; but unless our motive arises from radical love and devotion, we've totally missed God's heart.
Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Mark 14:5-6; 1 John 4:8, 16, 19; John 1:18; 14:23, 31; 15:15; 17:24-26; Matthew 7:21-23; 11:19; 1 Corinthians 8:1-3; and 1 Kings 10:1-13.