Much love

Luke 7:47 "Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."

One day Jesus was invited to a Pharisees house for a meal. Pharisees were considered themselves to be the religious elite. While enjoying the meal, a woman who had the reputation of living a sinful lifestyle, entered in and began to worship Jesus. She fell down at His feet, broke out an alabaster flask of fragrant oil and began to honor Jesus. She was so genuine in her love of Jesus that she was sobbing and sitting at the feet of Jesus in tears of adoration. She then whipped Jesus’ feet with the hair of her head. A woman’s hair is her glory the Bible says. So literally she was laying down her glory at the feet of Jesus to honor Him.

The Pharisee thought to himself, "This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner." And he despised the woman and questioned Jesus in his heart. Jesus, knowing the Pharisees thoughts showed him that the woman’s heart was actually in better condition than his own. Jesus reminded him that when He came into the house, no one offered to wash his feet which was customary hospitality in that time. But she washed Jesus feet with her tears and the hair of her head. Then Jesus makes this profound point. Those who have been forgiven much, love much. Those who have been forgiven little tend to love little.

There are many downs sides to sin. But there is one upside that God can use. That is, that when we repent of our sin and receive God's forgiveness, it can actually cause us to fall deeper in love with Him than ever before. In fact, many of the characters in the Bible including Abraham, Moses, David, and Peter. These are all men who experienced great personal moral failure. Yet, they also received God’s grace and forgiveness and went onto become greater men of God after their worst mistakes than they were before! Why? Because God’s grace so touched them that they wanted to live a life to honor God and say thank you for the love He had extended to them. They are all examples that those who have been forgiven much, love much.

I am one who has also experienced great personal moral failure. As I look over my life, I am shocked at some of the sins I have committed. Yet God is not shocked. Jesus is not shocked. He died on the cross for those sins. How many of our future sins were represented on the cross when Jesus died for us? ALL OF THEM!

May we accept the love God have for us. May His kindness lead us to repentance. And may we respond with much love.

Today’s prayer thought: Lord I have been forgiven much, help me to love much.