Forgiven Much

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.”  Luke 7:47

In the context of the above passage, Jesus was eating with a Pharisee when a sinful woman heard of it. This woman came to Jesus weeping. She wet Jesus’ feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. She kissed His feet and anointed them from the alabaster flask of ointment which she brought with her. This was a broken woman over her sin. The Pharisee questioned Jesus’ judgment saying to himself, “if He were a prophet, he would know what kind of a woman she was, a sinner.” Jesus knowing his thoughts, answered him by telling a story of two debtors with debts which could not be repayed. One owed much more that the other yet both were forgiven of their debts. Jesus asked “which would love more, the one forgiven of little, or the one forgiven of a lot.” The Pharisee answered correctly in saying, “the one who owed more.”

The thing is each us who are saved has been forgiven of a massive debt which we cannot repay. Oftentimes people compare themselves to someone evil, like a serial killer saying, “I am a good person. There is not much to forgive, at least I have never killed anyone or robbed someone at gunpoint.” You or I may have never murdered anyone, but have we ever hated someone? If so, Jesus said that we are guilty of murder in the heart. Ever stolen something? I know I have. I remember a time many years ago when I needed a spare tire, so a friend and I stole one out of someone’s truck. It was just sitting there in the back of the truck, so we took it. The owner had to work a few hours to buy this; then we come along and stole it leaving him to have to work more hours to replace it. Does God look at my sin and compare it to the serial killer and say, “at least you did not do that, so everything is ok?” I think not. Actually I know not. For each and every one of us who are saved, our sin cost Jesus His life. He went to the cross to pay for it. Do we really appreciate what Jesus did for us? Or do we just take it for granted, like it is no big deal that we are forgiven? The thing is, the more thankful we are for what Jesus did for us, the more we love Him for it. The more we love Him, the more we love and respect His Word. The more we love and respect His Word, the more we are changed and want to glorify Him with our lives.

A Sinful Woman Forgiven

36 Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. 37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, 38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “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.”

40 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”

So he said, “Teacher, say it.”

41 “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”

43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.”

And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” 44 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 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.”

48 Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

49 And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

50 Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.". 

Luke 7:36-50 NKJV

Revelation 3:20 I Stand At The Door And Knock

Revelation 3:20

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

(Revelation 3:20 NKJV)

Often people use the above verse when witnessing to the unsaved. While I suppose one may do this, however in the context of this passage, Jesus is speaking to the church, not the unchurched. What a sad thing it is when Jesus is outside of the church trying to get in. Even individually, this may often be the case. Some may figure they are right with the Lord because of what they do, such as singing in the choir and attending church regularly. For many, they are busy serving and going through the motions, but their hearts are far from Him. Thankfully, Jesus gives us two solutions to our lukewarmness in His message to the church at Laodicea in Revelation 3:18. The first is to buy from Him and clothe ourselves with His garments. The second is to anoint our eyes so that we may see. What does this mean? Simply put, we purchase these garments from Him with our faith, (See Ephesians 2:8-9)  and anoint our eyes with His Word. (See Romans 10:17) We must always remember, “I can do nothing apart from Him.”

The Lukewarm Church

14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,

‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’”

(Revelation 3:14-22 NKJV)

When I Am Weak, 2 Corinthians 12:10

2 Corinthians 12:10

The Thorn in the Flesh

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 NKJV

Oh how easy it is when one is going through some difficulty to think; "I must solve this with my own strength." I know that I do this, even if I pray, I become tempted to just rush through the prayer and get on doing what I feel as I should do on my own. Even churches and various ministries will often times trust in self rather than God. For example, a church might get focused on growth and want to figure out ways to fill the building. Then political correctness sets in and the Gospel goes out the window. The problem is that Jesus is not in this. He is the one with all the power, and authority. He knows what is right. Why in the world would we want to solve a problem we face or perform some sort of ministry work without Him? It really makes no since to do that, now does it?

Revelation 2:12-13

Revelation 2:13 NKJV

12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: 13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. Revelation 2: 12b-13 NKJV

We too may be be living where Satan dwells. For example, at work one might be pressured to compromise, or even deny their faith. In the church which Jesus spoke to here, there are some who did compromise. How about you and I, are we keeping the faith, or not?

The Compromising Church

12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write,
‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: 13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.[a] 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” Revelation 2:12-17 NKJV

Matthew 6:33

Matthew 6:33

4 Do not overwork to be rich;
Because of your own understanding, cease!
5 Will you set your eyes on that which is not?
For riches certainly make themselves wings;
They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.

Proverbs 23:5-6 NKJV

Lay Up Treasures in Heaven

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV

31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:31-33 NKJV

God is NOT saying; "have nothing." While it is good to work, invest wisely and pursue career ambitions, all earthly treasure will not last. Be good stewards of the resources God has blessed us with, but our treasure should be in heaven.

Thank You Jesus

John 15:13

"Greater love has no one than this, 

than to lay down one’s life for his friends."

John 15:13 NKJV

Many people ask, "Why do you Christians honor a symbol of torture?"  It is not the symbol, but who Jesus is and what He did. It is because of Jesus' great love that He laid His life down for us, that all who believe will have everlasting life. It is through Jesus' death, burial and resurrection that we live.

Thank You Jesus!

Exercise Your Faith

Philippians 2:12-13 NKJV
"...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure."

The thing I notice in my walk with the Lord, if I am not busy exercising my faith, I find my spiritual life becomes dry. My prayer and bible study is just not the same and I become lazy. I find myself just going through the motions. When I am busy serving the Lord in some way, I find that I come alive. For example, I notice a difference in my walk when I am ministering through this blog, as opposed to not. I hope and pray others are feed through my writings, but this blog does a major work in my life. To "workout your salvation" means to live out your faith and to live an obedient life. I believe this means more than just turning from sin, but also stepping out in faith bringing glory to God in your service to Him. In doing so, He will grow us. How are you doing with "working out your salvation?" Just for clarity, we do not work to earn our salvation. It is a gift of God. See Ephesians 2:8-10.