Deep Thought of the Day: Those who are forgiven much, love much.

Earlier this week I read this verse, “God rescued me from the grave and now my life is filled with light.” Job 33:28 NLT

It moved me greatly and I’ve been thinking about it ever since. You see, I know very well who I was before God and what He has done for me. I know where I’d be without Him. I’ve been forgiven much and I am grateful for Jesus’ sacrifice and the grace of God. I’ve done some really really stupid things. I won’t illustrate because I don’t want to give anyone any ideas. But suffice to say that I’ve been forgiven much.

Not everyone understands why I love God and why I talk about His love all the time. Why I post about it on FB, Twitter and here on my blog. Why I am willing to be obedient to what He asks, even when I don’t really want to be. Well the reason is that those who are forgiven much, love much.

There’s an example of forgiven much and love much from Luke 7:36-50. It’s the story of the woman anointing Jesus’ feet. This is in the Amplified Version.

One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to dine with him, and He went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the town who was an especially wicked sinner, when she learned that He was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment (perfume). And standing behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with [her] tears; and she wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed His feet [affectionately] and anointed them with the ointment (perfume).

Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw it, he said to himself, If this Man were a prophet, He would surely know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching Him—for she is a notorious sinner (a social outcast, devoted to sin).

And Jesus, replying, said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”

And he answered, “teacher, say it.”

“A certain lender of money [at interest] had two debtors: one owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they had no means of paying, he freely forgave them both. Now which of them will love him more?”

Simon answered, “The one, I take it, for whom he forgave and cancelled more.”

And Jesus said to him, “You have decided correctly.”

Then turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I came into your house, you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave Me no kiss, but she from the moment I came in has not ceased [intermittently] to kiss My feet tenderly and caressingly. You did not anoint My head with [cheap, ordinary] oil, but she has anointed My feet with [costly, rare] perfume. Therefore I tell you, her sins, many [as they are], are forgiven her—because she has loved much. But he who is forgiven little loves little.”

And He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven!”

Then those who were at table with Him began to say among themselves, “Who is this Who even forgives sins”?

But Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go (enter) into peace [in freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as the result of sin].”

This story always brings tears to my eyes and touches my heart every time. We don’t know what happened to her to send her on this path of sin. But I suspect she was very broken. Very hurt. Most likely she had never met anyone who treated her with respect or showed her love without strings. He didn’t want anything from her. He didn’t use her. He didn’t judge her. He loved her. And it permanently changed her in the way only love can. He looked at her and called her forgiven. He looked at her and said go in peace. That word peace is the Greek Word, eirene. When applied to the salvation of the Messiah, Jesus, it actually means the way that leads to peace and salvation. It’s the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ. Can you imagine looking into the compassionate eyes of Jesus Himself and hearing those words? The truth is that is exactly how He feels about you! And me!

I love all the stories about how Jesus related to and loved women.  He was so gracious.  So respectful.  So kind.  His motives were pure and brotherly and He valued the women He met. He saw them beautiful and precious just like His Father does. We women are precious to God, even in our broken state. This is why for the rest of my life I will love Him. I will obey because I love Him and I know He only has my good in mind. I will worship and praise every day, because He rescued me and filled my life with light. I have so much to be grateful for, and that I cannot stop worshipping. And I don’t want to!

Here’s Big Daddy Weave’s “Redeemed”  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSyLqbP8Z4I