UNDERSTANDING FORGIVENESS ENCOURAGES LOVE

UNDERSTANDING FORGIVENESS ENCOURAGES LOVE

Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little. —Luke 7:47

            Do we understand how much we have been forgiven?  Those who love much are those who have a greater understanding of how much they have been forgiven.  Those who love little do not see how much they have been forgiven.

            You might hear someone say, “I lived a pretty good life before I received Jesus into my life.  I did not get into any bad stuff.”  This person does not understand how their “good life” without Jesus was not good.  It may be good when compared to other people, but to compare their life before a righteous and Holy God would not be good at all.

            One wicked, evil and filthy sin would be enough to keep a person from being in relationship with God and out of heaven forever.  Do we understand this?  Before our righteous and holy God one sin is an eternal issue and would doom us forever.

            Now, if we are honest with ourselves, we have sinned more than one time… much more than one time.  Our sin is eternally much more filthy than the most filthy pig pen on the planet and so was the stench of our sin before our righteous and holy God.  Do we understand this?  Do we understand how much we have been forgiven?  The more we understand of what God has done for us who have “called on the Name of our Lord Jesus” the more love we have for Him, His ways and other people.  Your love for Him is directly related to how much your understanding us of your sin forgiven.

            The one who understands they have been forgiven much loves much.  The one who only understands they have been forgiven little loves little.  So, how much do you love?  Jesus said, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.  Whoever does not love Me does not keep My words. The word that you hear is not My own, but it is from the Father who sent Me” (John 14:23-24).  Love for Him will be seen by obedience to His will.

            How will I show my loving obedience to Him today?  Will I spend time with Him— talking and listening to Him?  Will I share His gospel today?  Will I somehow be involved with discipleship today?  Will I fellowship with another believer or believers today?  Will I seek to live holy today?  Will I seek to serve today?  Will I be thankful today?  Will I ask for forgiveness and be forgiving today?  Will I keep away from temptation today?  Will I remember where real power comes from today?  Will I?

Dear Father out of my love for You may I seek to faithfully be and do what You desire today.  May this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.  So be it…