"I
tell you her sins--and they are many--have been forgiven, so she has
shown much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little
love." (Luke 7:47 NLT)
Once when Jesus was at a dinner-party held in His honor, He told a story to the host who had invited Him. It involved two people who owed a man a lot of money, but one owed much more than the other. When neither of them could repay, the lender decided to cancel both debts. Jesus asked the host this question: "Now which of them will love him more?"
He told this story because a woman heard He was there and came to anoint His feet with perfume and her tears. The host was disgusted with her behavior because she was a sinful woman, and he didn't understand why Jesus allowed it. After telling the story, Jesus pointed out to the host the ways the woman was honoring Him, and the ways he was not. In truth, they both were in need of God's mercy and forgiveness, but one of them knew it and the other didn't.
The man who invited Jesus to dinner was a member of a sect called the Pharisees. In general, the Pharisees didn't accept Jesus as the Messiah. He was too humble, ordinary, and didn't associate with the right people. Jesus got after them a lot regarding their self-righteous behavior and how they were oppressing the poor, sinful, and anyone not like them. They needed forgiveness as much as anyone, perhaps even more so, but they didn't recognize their sinful ways. For them it was all about trying to earn God's favor rather than simply receiving God's favor. They were focused on their own duty and righteousness (and that everyone else should be like them), rather than being focused on God's love.
I'd like to say I've never fallen into this same trap, but I can't. And in a way, I'm glad. I know what it feels like to take love out of the equation in my relationship with God. And I never want to go back there. It's a dark, lonely place of confusion and pain. I am thankful God rescued me from that. He has taught me to rest in His grace every day. No matter how I fall short--through disobedience, misguided choices, disappointing others, or not being all I think I should be: His grace is enough. He loves me.
Believing that makes me more loving, more forgiving, and more giving. I believe I am precious in His sight. I believe in all He has done for me. I believe His ultimate gift to me is Himself: His peace, His presence, and His mercy. What are you believing this Christmas?
Once when Jesus was at a dinner-party held in His honor, He told a story to the host who had invited Him. It involved two people who owed a man a lot of money, but one owed much more than the other. When neither of them could repay, the lender decided to cancel both debts. Jesus asked the host this question: "Now which of them will love him more?"
He told this story because a woman heard He was there and came to anoint His feet with perfume and her tears. The host was disgusted with her behavior because she was a sinful woman, and he didn't understand why Jesus allowed it. After telling the story, Jesus pointed out to the host the ways the woman was honoring Him, and the ways he was not. In truth, they both were in need of God's mercy and forgiveness, but one of them knew it and the other didn't.
The man who invited Jesus to dinner was a member of a sect called the Pharisees. In general, the Pharisees didn't accept Jesus as the Messiah. He was too humble, ordinary, and didn't associate with the right people. Jesus got after them a lot regarding their self-righteous behavior and how they were oppressing the poor, sinful, and anyone not like them. They needed forgiveness as much as anyone, perhaps even more so, but they didn't recognize their sinful ways. For them it was all about trying to earn God's favor rather than simply receiving God's favor. They were focused on their own duty and righteousness (and that everyone else should be like them), rather than being focused on God's love.
I'd like to say I've never fallen into this same trap, but I can't. And in a way, I'm glad. I know what it feels like to take love out of the equation in my relationship with God. And I never want to go back there. It's a dark, lonely place of confusion and pain. I am thankful God rescued me from that. He has taught me to rest in His grace every day. No matter how I fall short--through disobedience, misguided choices, disappointing others, or not being all I think I should be: His grace is enough. He loves me.
Believing that makes me more loving, more forgiving, and more giving. I believe I am precious in His sight. I believe in all He has done for me. I believe His ultimate gift to me is Himself: His peace, His presence, and His mercy. What are you believing this Christmas?
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