2 minute read.
Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 5 GW; Luke 7 GW
Forgiven much, love much.
When a sinful woman found out Jesus was in town, she high-tailed it over to see Him. When she arrived, she washed his feet with her tears. Forgiven much, she loved Jesus without restraint, allowing all to see. When she stopped crying, she dried Jesus’s feet with her hair and poured perfume on them.
Of course, the Pharisee in attendance, a.k.a. resident religious leader, disapproved. He couldn’t believe Jesus allowed a woman of such ill repute to touch Him. Jesus didn’t care what they thought. Instead, Jesus told a parable about two men who owed money to a lender. One owed Him five hundred coins, the other fifty. When they couldn’t make their payments, the lender forgave each man their debt.
“Now, who do you think will love him the most?” (Luke 7:41 GW)
The borrower forgiven much loved more than the one forgiven little. Jesus made the point, the same applies to sinfulness. The sinful woman knew all God had forgiven her; therefore, she was all in with Jesus.
Jesus forgives all.
That thing you did back in high school, Jesus, forgave you the minute you asked. When we confess to Jesus that we are sinners in need of grace, He replies quickly. Jesus instantaneously forgives when we ask; we’re the ones who have a hard time forgiving ourselves.
If Jesus forgives you, shouldn’t you do the same?
At 52 years old, I can look back on my life from a different perspective. Just this morning, I was beating myself up for something I did twenty years ago. All of a sudden, I had this thought. “You’re not that person anymore!” Following Christ helps me become something completely new. Jesus will do the same for you.
Understand today, Jesus wipes your slate clean when you placed your trust in Him. You can love much because God forgave you much. Don’t cling to the past; embrace the future with Christ.
.
Lord, thank You for forgiving each one of us wholly and ultimately when we turn to You. Forgive us for not forgiving ourselves. Help us today forgive ourselves of the wrongs we think are unforgivable. As we grasp the truth of Your promise, let us embrace forgiveness and love without abandon, knowing, You love us just as we are. And You’re helping us become more like Jesus every day. IJNIP. Amen
Question for reflection
What are you struggling to forgive yourself for today?
