When God Says …
“You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 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 7:45-47 NIV).
These passages reveal that a person's heartfelt display of love for her/his Savior is a reflection of their recognition of God's eternal forgiveness. This woman displays the real depth of the content of her heart with overwhelming gratitude. She recognizes the enormity of her forgiven debt. That is her cognizance of the reality that in sin she’s headed for eternal death. Now, that morbid prospect is taken away in the presence of her Savior.
Simon the Pharisee, on the other hand, blinded by the convention of his religion, is unaware of his own spiritual debt. Or, perhaps hardened and stubborn to recognize he is a sinner. He showed little honor and respect of the One whose power can save him. His action seems to show he feels he had little need for forgiveness. How about you, reflecting on these passages now? What are you showing the Lord about your recognition of what He has done for you? Is it merely what’s required or expected by religious convention? Is it worse than that? Or, is it extravagant and heartfelt? The Lord used this event in His mission to teach us that our daily displays of thanksgiving and joy reveal our recognition of how much God has forgiven us!
We must have this rooted in our heart and being that, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24 ESV). We have so much to thank the Lord for. Yes, extravagantly we give thanks! “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” (Ephesians 1:7 NIV).
When this currency of time we’ve been given is spent and we step into eternity with our Father and Lord Jesus Christ, we will all join together singing. We are forgiven much. We’re ransomed by the blood of Simon’s banquet guest. It is written: “And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,” (Revelation 5:9 ESV).
And I say, AMEN!
Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
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