I’ve been studying the book of Luke for quite some time now. I sometimes begin to wonder why it’s taking me so long to get through, but the Lord is teaching me so much through it that I don’t want to be away from it anytime soon. For about 3 weeks now, I’ve been processing the story in Luke 7 about the sinful woman being forgiven.

In this story, a Pharisee named Simon asked Jesus to come into his house and eat with him. While they were eating, a woman from the city came in with an alabaster flask of ointment. She began to weep as she washed Jesus’ feet with her tears. She wiped them with her hair, kissed his feet, and anointed them with oil.

Simon was amazed that Jesus allowed her to do that, because He must have known she was a sinner. Jesus then told Simon a story about two debtors. One owed the moneylender 500 denarii and the other owed 50 denarii. Neither of the debtors could pay their debt, so the moneylender cancelled each of them. Jesus asked Simon, “Who will love Jesus greater?” and Simon responded saying, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” Jesus responded, “You have judged rightly.”

Jesus was teaching Simon that the woman had a greater sin debt for Him to forgive, so she loved him more. He explained to Simon how she did all the things that Simon did not when Jesus came into His house. She gave him water, a kiss, and oil. Simon gave Him none of these things.

After Jesus explained these things He told the woman that her sins were forgiven and told her to go to in peace.

“go in peace.”

I find so much comfort in those three simple words. So much comfort in how He forgives me of all my junk and then sends me out in peace. But this story also terrifies me in some ways. I become fearful that I am guilty of being more like Simon than I am the woman. It’s so easy to become caught up in what I am doing for God that makes Him known to others that I forget to come humbly before Him, even in my sin, to worship Him. This passage tells us that as soon as we invite Jesus to dwell in us, we have an immediate command to serve Him. It’s not an option to serve, we have to. Through our service we must be purified. Like the sinful woman, I must come to Him to purify my heart. Is it easy? NO! Does it hurt? Yeah, like a lot. Do I like to do it often? No, but I have to because I am filled with sin.

But God, when He forgives us He sends us out in peace. When He forgives us we can walk in the confidence that He dwells in us and gives us the boldness to serve Him. I love that. I don’t have to be fearful of what opposition may come when I serve Him. I don’t have to feel guilty of my sin. I get to walk in freedom. There is so much comfort in those three words “go in peace.”

Today I pray you find hope in those words. As believers we get the peace of God that dwells in and through us (John 14:27). Walk in that comfort. Dwell in it. Praise the Lord for it!