When reading through Luke 7:36-50, I’m overcome with gratitude that God chooses to forgive anyone at any time.
No matter what they’ve done.
No matter who they are.
No matter how long they’ve rejected Him.
In my lifetime, I’ve gone through a few things but nothing so major. Just your pretty typical ups and downs that life throws at you.
However, I’ve noticed that with each struggle, my heart’s capacity to love and have empathy has grown.
When we lost 2 babies to miscarriage, my heart broke but also expanded to have understanding for women mourning this type of loss.
When I’ve been in pain, I’ve gained understanding of what it’s like to not be able to walk or sit comfortably.
With every situation we encounter, our understanding of life expands.
I understand what a blessing it is to have a child and I don’t take for granted the ability to walk without pain.
In the same way, those who have much sin and much to be forgiven of have a deeper understanding of the grace shown to them than those who have been forgiven little.
I’ve lived a pretty sheltered life. I haven’t lived a life in fear of war or wondered where my next meal would come from. I haven’t done a lot of things wrong. Never went down a road full of drugs or sex or crime. I’m a sinner, just the same, but the depth of what I’ve been forgiven of is different than others. And so, rightly so, my understanding of being forgiven of much more is limited.
In Luke 7:36-50, we find Jesus at the house of a Pharisee named Simon. While he was there, a woman of the city (likely a prostitute) came into the house where she knew Jesus was and knelt down behind him, weeping. She wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair and kissed and anointed his feet with ointment.
The Pharisee was certain Jesus must be unaware what kind of woman this was that he was allowing to do such a thing, but Jesus said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”
“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered 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 from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven- for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
Luke 7: 41-48
This woman was forgiven of MUCH, and so her gratefulness and love was THAT MUCH BIGGER.
Don’t think that you’ve done too much or gone too far to be forgiven……
It’s quite the opposite.
When you choose to receive the forgiveness that God offers, your capacity of understanding the fullness of that forgiveness will be so much bigger.
The freedom you’ll feel is like a wave of peace that crashes into your soul releasing you of all that holds you down.
And having been forgiven of much, your heart’s ability to love others will be greater than one who has been forgiven of little.
Do not let the fear of not being good enough keep you from receiving the grace that Jesus died to give you.
There is no such thing as being undeserving of the love of God.
Feeling that way is a lie we tell ourselves.
I’ll say it again. There is no such thing as being undeserving of the love of God.
You are exactly who He came to save.
I am exactly who He came to save.
We are deserving of the gift of forgiveness- not because we say so, but because God says so.
Bible Journaling Details
This page was done with Neocolor ii water-soluble crayons. I colored a bit of yellow, blue, and green around the page and then wet the colors with a water brush, being careful not to blend the colors together.
I used a Faber-Castell Pitt Pen to write and make the crosses and dots.
This is one of those times that I wanted to write down what I was feeling and not just the verse itself. I love having a Bible that allows me space for extra journaling.
For more information on my favorite supplies and links to purchase all of these amazing products and Bibles, check out My Top Ten Favorite Bible Journaling Supplies.
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