Because of love: Finding forgiveness and a new perspective
The whispers. The stares. The scoffing.
I’m sure she heard and saw it all.
But in the presence of her Savior, none of it mattered.
Jesus had entered the home of a Pharisee as a dinner guest. She was considered the town harlot but upon hearing of His visit, joined the party and began to worship extravagantly.
This was no ordinary act of worship: her display of love–weeping in His presence, wiping His feet with her tears, drying them with her hair, and anointing them with her expensive perfume–caused indignation to rise within the heart of the host. “Surely if this man was a prophet, He would know this woman is a sinner,” he thought.
The Pharisee knew her by her past, identified her with her sin, and saw her worship as worthless. Jesus, however, used the moment to contrast the heart of one who loves much from the heart of one who doesn’t.
His words may surprise you. And I must confess I am comforted by them. Why? Because I’m confronted with the fact that it isn’t about the strength of my love–but of His.
“Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven–as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” (Luke 7:47, NIV)
Could the proportion to which we love Him come down to how He has loved us, namely, through the realization of what He accomplished on the cross, offering such profound forgiveness to those who believe? Apparently, yes.
And herein lies the lesson for you and me when shame attempts to drown us and our sin seeks to silence us-our past is meant not to keep us from His love but to propel us toward it.
If you’re like me, this is a complete shift of perspective. I had assumed I needed to first earn His love. Then I thought I must perform to keep His love, proving I was worthy. If after all that effort I had any energy left, I figured I would have to muster up a meager offering of love for Him…and I could forget about loving others.
So let’s listen to the heart of Christ again: her sins, which were many, have been forgiven. Proof of receiving such a faithful, forgiving love? She loved much.
How great is our salvation; how vast and complete His forgiveness because of the shedding of His blood!
What love.
And because of this love, we are free to love–God and others. We’re free to worship–extravagantly; to move in spaces others deem us unworthy to move in; to move beyond our past; and to serve–and love–well.
Why? Because of love–His for us and in response, ours for Him.
Because of love we can say goodbye to the lies that keep us from His love, and instead, be propelled toward it.
Scripture for meditation
“Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” (Luke 7:47, NIV)
The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! (Hebrews 9:13-14, NIV)
Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins… (Psalm 103:2-3a, NIV)
Prompts for reflection and journaling
Recall what Christ has done for you: what He has saved you from, forgiven you for, redeemed and brought “good” from something that otherwise would have only been “bad.” Journal or discuss the gratitude and hope you feel as you reflect upon what He has done.
How can a renewed sense of gratitude for His love increase your love for Him
How can you display your love for Him today, such as the harlot-turned-worshiper displayed hers?
Is there someone you can encourage today to let their past propel them to His love instead of being kept from it?
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