A Picture of Gratitude
“Her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much” (Luke 7:47)
Hello Saints,
Happy Thanksgiving!
“Give thanks with a grateful heart…because He has given Jesus Christ, His son” are the words of the 50-year-old popular worship song. Even more precise are the words to the newer song: “All my words fall short; I got nothing new. How could I express, All my gratitude?” Sometimes words and songs are not enough to convey the deep gratitude one has upon realizing the love and forgiveness of God offered in sending His One and Only Son to take away our sins, and justify a guilty sinner, freeing them from the condemnation and wrath of a Holy God. Are you grateful? To what extent? Take a moment and read Luke 7:36-50; take another moment to meditate and let it sink in.
No name; no identity; just a reputation that she was “a woman in the city who was a sinner” (vs. 37). That’s her title… “the sinner” (vs. 39), because telling us once was not enough. We don’t know what her sin is, but that is how the religious people saw her…don’t you just love religious people? Are we? Criticizing God for welcoming a “sinner” (vs. 39). Oh man!!! I can be so religious sometimes and lose sight of who I was; and still am! Jesus’ response to Simon the Pharisee is beautiful – a parable of two debtors. Two people who owed “a debt”, one ten times as much as the other, with no way to pay it back. But the Creditor in His great love and mercy, pardons both their debts. Who will be more grateful? The message is clear! Sin is a debt we cannot pay, and God is the merciful creditor who pardons the debt owed – forgiving the sinner and freeing him/her from the payment. Somehow, someway, by the working of Holy Spirit in her heart, by seeing Jesus, maybe hearing His gospel message at some point, she has received the offer of forgiveness and come to Jesus for pardon, healing and restoration. We are all in debt to God because of our sin, in desperate need of mercy, grace and forgiveness. We must come to Jesus, and Him alone to receive what only He can provide – atonement for sin and reconciliation with God.
Is there any greater joy than to know that you have been forgiven and reconciled back into relationship with Father God? Could a “sinner” be any more grateful for hearing “your sins are forgiven” (vs. 48) and “your faith has saved you” (vs. 50). How would you express that joy and gratitude? Are songs and words ever enough? How about publicly going into a room full of religious, judgemental elites and washing Jesus’ feet with your tears of joy and hair that may have once been used to lure people into sin. How do you show your love and gratitude to so great a mercy and grace as Jesus offers? What does a public display of affection for our Savior look like for you? Tears in church service? Joy unspeakable and full of glory? Sharing with others what He has done in your life? Offering your life as a living sacrifice to the glory of Christ? Don’t worry…we are free to express ourselves however we choose; we’re not legalists.
However, Jesus does commend her love for Him upon receiving forgiveness: “I tell you, her sins-- and they are many-- have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love” (vs. 47 NLT). Love Jesus, Love God with all that we are, and don’t be afraid to express your love for Him. Is that the right response to so great a salvation? We love because He first loved us (1John 4:19) and has poured His love into our hearts (Rom. 5:5). Absolutely! That is a response that Jesus commends. There is another: “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1John 4:11). We show our love and gratitude to God by loving our brothers and sisters in Christ, for He is in each one of us. Think upon these things.
“God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love has been brought to full expression through us.” (1John 4:9-12)
Peace and Joy
"Advancing the Kingdom of God by releasing Spirit-filled followers to serve Jesus in freedom and joy."
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