Loving Much

"Her sins, which are many, are forgiven - for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." Luke 7:47 ESV

Imagine a room wherein is seated a large group of important men, eating at a table. Christ is sitting with them. Into the room walks a lone women. She is known of the city as one who is a sinner and for whatever she has done, she has a miserable reputation. She is anything but welcome.

With all eyes on her, she walks right into the room and kneeling at Jesus feet, she begins to weep. Without hesitation, without resistance, she stays there, performing what she has come to do. Owing all to the One who forgives. With her very own hair she wipes his bare feet; and finally, taking a jar of expensive oil, she pours it over his feet, giving to Him the best of what she has left.

The men, who are Pharisees, stare at her and Simon, a Pharisee and host of the meal, is thinking, "This "prophet" should know this woman is a sinner!". However, Jesus knows what he's thinking and addresses Simon with a simple story about one who'd been forgiven a little debt, and another who'd been forgiven a lot. Then He says, "Who do you think loved more?" Simon responds, "well, the one who was forgiven more!" Christ's point exactly.

This woman did even more to serve the Lord than any of the Pharisees had done, because she had realized the weight of her sin and was showing true repentance! She had felt the immense love of Christ over the burden of which He was willing to forgive, enabling her to take courage and enter the middle of a dinner with the elite, in order to return her love for a Saviour, whose forgiveness is beyond human understanding! 

The more we've realized the weight of what we've been forgiven, the more we will love Him. "Her sins which are many are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little." Furthermore, the more we love Him, the more that reflects on how we treat others. When we see ourselves from what we've been redeemed, we see we are nothing without Him. It is only through His forgiveness and grace that we can be made who we are. 

Realize the place from which you have been saved. Realize the weight you've been Forgiven. Love Christ, and love others.