Scripture Reading: Luke 7:1-50, Psalm 32:1-2, 1 John 4:19
One year, as part of our celebratory Christmas decorations, we set up a fantastic black-and-cream toy train under the tree. Once a day, I would let the kids play with it for a few minutes. They would sit on their tiny knees, leaning forward and exclaiming while the train made its allotted brave journey around the tree several times. Then I’d remind them to turn it off and move on with their day.
One of my best friends laughed at me for this, saying, “You’re limiting their Christmas magic so you don’t have to spend money on replacement batteries?!” Yeah, I guess I do tend to be a little parsimonious when it comes to…well, everything. Some of us are miserly with our resources. Maybe you are a bit freer with your spending; we’re all different. But if I had an alabaster jar filled with perfume I would reluctantly parse it out over many years, and I’d be hard-pressed to slop it all out in one afternoon over a stranger.
Whether you are free or tight with resources, it’s important to know when it’s time to set aside your personal inclinations. Otherwise, we are like the Pharisee who invited Jesus to his house but held back on the hospitality. If the Pharisee had realized who was sitting at his table and what debt of gratitude he owed Him, would he have been so close-fisted in his actions? And centuries later, knowing Jesus’s purpose and intent, would we have washed His feet and offered Him a kiss? Unless we are aware of our great debt of love, it’s hard to remember who we are and what we are called to do.
When we realize how much we have received—how much we have been forgiven—then everything comes into perspective. We, too, often hold back pieces of our lives for ourselves because we fail to see how greatly we have been forgiven. If we were to comprehend the full abundance of God’s forgiveness, how could we hold back anything from Him? In Him we have received all things, beyond what we could ask or imagine.
Like the woman in Luke 7, we who have been forgiven much can appreciate the depth of Christ’s love. The more we see our need for Him, the more opportunity we have for gratefulness and love for His deep forgiveness. He doesn’t speak of the woman’s shame, only of her love.
In John’s vision of heaven in the book of Revelation, the twenty-four elders cast their crowns at the feet of Christ, crying out: “Our Lord and God, you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power!” (Revelation 4:11). Everything changes because of who Christ is. By His sacrifice, He has given us abundant forgiveness and overwhelming love. He calls us to live our lives in thankfulness—and when we remember who He is and what He has done, how can we keep from falling at His feet in grateful love?
—Rebecca Faires
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69 thoughts on "Forgiveness and Love"
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It is so comforting to be able to know that we see ourselves just like the women, and how convicting it is in our hearts to see and recognize a small bit of Simon in our own selves. Jesus sees so far beyond our very own mistakes and He knows our hearts better than anyone else can, and yet sometimes we tend to forget the extent of the grace that we give others. This is a passage that is reminding me how easily I can be quick to judge others without knowing who they are and what there story is.Truly want to really continue remember the amount of grace Jesus has shown me and to be able to extend that same exact compassion to others.
It’s comforting when we see ourselves as the woman, and convicting when we recognize a little of Simon in ourselves. Jesus sees beyond our mistakes and knows our hearts, yet sometimes we forget to extend that same grace to others. This passage reminds me how easily we can judge people without knowing their story. I want to remember the grace Jesus has shown me and extend that same compassion to others. We don’t have to earn Jesus’s compassion, and we shouldn’t make others earn ours. ❤️
Beautiful reading and devotion today. It’s only when we fully realize all we have been forgiven that we can fully understand and appreciate the forgiveness God has bestowed upon us through the death of His beloved Son. Do I truly realize how much I’ve been forgiven? I pray that I can ponder daily the depth of forgiveness and love I have received.
Psalm 32:1
Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
“But he who is forgiven little, loves little” (Luke 7:47), and so, the one who is forgiven much, loves much.
How do I love the Lord more, especially when my love feels dry and my devotion feels dutiful? And how can I realize I have been forgiven much if I am not even aware of my sins? (“Good person” syndrome). Love is the response to forgiveness. Our love for the Lord cannot be manufactured by effort or obligation. It grows as we come to know, truly know, not just in theory but in our heart and spirit, how deep His forgiveness and love for us really are. First John 4:19 says, “We love because He first loved us.” Love for God is always a response, to Him who first loved us and forgave us. This is why Paul prays for the church that believers would have the power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep the love of Christ is, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge (Ephesians 3:17-19). I pray the same for myself, and for us, and for our lost children. And it is a reminder for me as a parent, we must forgive first, to create a safe space and an open door for returning. The Bible is a great parenting book. May gratitude shape our worship and praise. The woman with the alabaster jar, her response was so costly and unashamed (rubbing her clean hair on her Lord’s dusty feet). She gave freely, served humbly, unconcerned and unbothered with what others thought. What gratitude she must have carried. And gratitude is always a fragrance to the Lord. Be blessed dear sisters.
This is beautiful, Mercy. I’m copying it into my journal. ❤️
I never noticed before today that the centurion was so humble that he didn’t even go meet Jesus himself; he sent messengers to make his request. And still Jesus marveled at his faith.
I have a prayer request for myself: I have really been struggling with depression and exhaustion lately and just not finding the energy or motivation to do anything at all. Some days I can barely manage to get out of bed. I’m also struggling to figure out why.
Dear Margaret
Sending a prayer
For peace … His calming presence
For love … His faithfulness
For understanding …His truth
Amen
Praying for clarity and that the Lord will replace the depression & exhaustion with hope and an amazing refreshing of your spirit
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Praying over your joy and renewed strength.
Praying for healing from depression, and renewed energy as you heal.
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Do you see this woman? Do I see others as sinners or someone in need of God’s love?
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I think I need a new lens with which to see. To realize that others may be in the dark. That I’m judging them for what they do not know. I need to extend God’s grace.
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I’m forever grateful for the forgiveness that God has given me. I poured out my heart to Him 30 years ago and He has been so faithful in walking beside me. In His love.
“In Him we have received all things, beyond what we can ask or imagine.” ❣️
So many great thoughts! I guess what helps me understand how much I’ve been forgiven is by looking back at what He saved me from. As an 8 year old I accepted Christ. But when I look at His protection from harm or evil, I can see His hand. He has kept me so many times from stepping away from Him! When I think about how my life could have turned out, I’m grateful for His saving grace, when I mess up and sin now, I’m so thankful that I can run to Him!
Sometimes, it just takes a moment to sit and reflect over our lives at what God has done to really appreciate His grace. Then it becomes easy to pour out our best for Him!
Love you all and praying over you!
Thank you ladies so much for praying for Ricky (my half brother) and I yesterday. We had dinner and I shared the gospel along with some of my testimony last night. He was open and listening. I was really honest with him and said how I so deeply desired him to have more purpose in this life.. and to be in eternity with him.
There’s some things he is working through, but I pray my words take root and get a fire going in his heart to find Jesus. I’m so thankful to the Lord for allowing me to share that moment with my brother and I have faith it will make a difference.
❤️❤️❤️ love you ladies
Praying that the “seeds” you planted will take root in Ricky’s heart and God will move in his life. I’m still praying for you every day, sweet sister! ❤️
This is so encouraging. Praise the Lord for your courage and obedience that has a part in impacting your brothers eternity. I did not see your request from yesterday until a bit later but have prayed.❤️
Praise the Lord for the opportunity – and that he listened! May God use it to open his heart to Him!
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❤️ praying over his heart that the Lord waters the “seeds”.
Thank you all so much for your prayers and encouragement !!! ❤️❤️❤️
Absolutely love this
He doesn’t speak of the woman’s shame, only of her love. MY HEART! Oh…how I loved reading this! MY JESUS loves me SO much! And not the things I say about myself! I am forgiven! I am LOVED! He is MY JESUS! I will always remember who HE IS and what He has done for me!
Happy Tuesday sweet She’s! I saw pics of my boy in IG while serving coffee in Spain. MY heart! Also after reading this this morning, my heart feels better as I had an incident happen in Monterey whenI went to pick up my daughter for the weekend. I had a fender bender, and I was SO hard on myself! So hard! It was my fault, but I am reminded it was an accident, no one was hurt (except maybe my pocket book). The owner was not present. I left a note. And all I had was a postcard that comes in our subscription book from SRT. That’s where I wrote my number and name. She did reach out but I had to not going to mention what she said, HOWEVER I keep praying she will look back at the postcard and maybe, just maybe she will seek GOD!
So sorry about the fender bender. As you said, it was an accident—please forgive yourself! :) Perhaps the postcard will plant or water a seed. Glad no one was hurt!!
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“Unless we are aware of our great debt of love, it’s hard to remember who we are and what we are called to do. When we realize how much we have received—how much we have been forgiven—then everything comes into perspective.”
Far,far too often I forget the depths of what Jesus has done for me even though I need His ongoing grace, mercy and forgiveness all the time. And, He will never forget me. How can I do anything but walk in faithful obedience to Him, to live as He has called me to, to share His love with others and offer praise to Him?
May these always be the humble posture and desire of my heart.
Really great comments and reflections today – thank you for sharing. Praying for your requests. Have a great day❤️
Thoughts running through my head. Do I give out of my lack? Or do I give out of my abundance? Because if everything I have comes from Jesus I am never lacking anything. So all I have is abundance. And from that I should give.
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Broken Vessels
Saving nothing, holding back no part, Mary broke the alabaster jar, itself a treasure, spoiled for any future use. It was for Jesus, no other use would it ever see. All for Him.
Mary broke her beautiful jar, but that was nothing for she took her own being, heart and soul and broke it before Him for His use.
Her gift merely a picture of her life, opened by the brutal choice of self annihilation, her own secret death
for Him
to Jesus,
her Love,
her Only Love.
Mary acted out before Him His own crucifixion. The bottle shattered – His broken body. The contents poured out – His Holy blood spilled. She understood and she showed Him…
It was about His death but it was also her own death to lose him. She was ministering to Him but she was also consenting to say goodbye to her Greatest Necessity because that was His will… and desire…
She would support His choice at the expense of her own needy existence.
No more would she sit at His feet and hear His heart’s secrets. Never again see His glowing face, nor hear His loving words, not ever, ever again feel His piercing touch. He was going to the Father, by deliberate choice and that meant as well, leaving her behind.
To let Him go would have been a great sacrifice but to help Him in it, to sustain His going… ah, that was the truly broken vessel.
Compared to this, the alabaster jar was nothing.
– From Adoration by Martha Kilpatrick
The story of the woman in Luke 7 with the oil reminded me of Mary of Bethany when she broke the alabaster jar and drew me to a collection of stories written by Martha Kilpatrick in her book Adoration about Mary of Bethany. Though this woman in Luke 7 was not her, the stories are similar. ❤️
Oh I’ll look for this book ❤️
This is beautiful Brittany. Thank you.
So beautiful Brittany
Amen
What a lesson on strength of faith. “But say the word, and my servant will be healed.”
And the woman at Simon’s house “stood at His feet behind Him weeping” brought to mind the question, am I crushed and weeping at His feet for my sins?
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Coming to mind this morning is the chorus of Where There Is Faith, 4Him (written by Billy Simon, 1990)
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Where there is faith
There is a voice calling, “keep walking”
You’re not alone in this world
Where there is faith
There is a peace like a child sleeping
Hope everlasting in He who is able to
Bear every Burden, to heal every hurt in my heart
It is a wonderful, powerful place
Where there is faith
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MICHELLE P ❤️ catching up today, praying the seeds planted yesterday flourish ❤️
B ❤️
TINA ❤️ love your Day 6 thoughts
RHONDA J ❤️ praying for you and family
BRITTANY E ❤️ beautiful prayer/poem, thank you for sharing!
TAMI ❤️
CAROLINE BRIDGES ❤️
Thanks for reminding us of that great song; one of my old favorites!!! ❤
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“Unless we are aware of our great debt of love, it’s hard to remember who we are and what we are called to do.”
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May I truly be aware of my great debt of love. Who am I? I am a child of the King. I am His beloved. I am a sinner, saved by His grace. What am I called to do? To Love as Jesus loved. Why? Because He first loved me, so much that He died for me. He has rescued me from the pit of hell and given me new life and a new destination – heaven!
May I never forget the price Jesus paid so that I could escape the wrath of God!! …All to Jesus I surrender.
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Alas! and did my Savior bleed,
and did my Sovereign die!
Would he devote that sacred head
for sinners such as I?
Was it for crimes that I have done,
he groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! Grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!
But drops of tears can ne’er repay
THE DEBT OF LOVE I OWE. (emphasis mine)
Here, Lord, I give myself away;
’tis all that I can do.
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@Michelle – praying that you have opportunity to share your faith with Ricky.
@Mari V – what a great opportunity! Praying for Caleb’s trip.
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Happy Tuesday She’s!
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” … would we have washed His feet and offered Him a kiss?”
Wow, what a convicting question!
I am not a ‘foot person’. ☺
I would be uncomfortable with someone massaging my feet, much !ess rubbing them with exoensuve perfume! But, Jesus knew His worth and He knew what this woman needed – love and forgiveness- and He freely gave both! May I be as giving and forgiving!
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Psalm 32:1-2 (NLT)
1 Oh, what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!
2 Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt,
whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
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Love, hugs, and prayers!❤
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SONG SHARE:
How Deep the Father’s Love for Us by The Gettys
❤️ How thankful we should be for His unmatched love and forgiveness!
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Re: feet – me either!!!
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Great song share
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You got me chuckle :)
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Amen❤️
“Unless we are aware of our great debt of love, it’s hard to remember who we are and what we are called to do.” If I am being honest, I don’t understand this “debt of love, how much I have been forgiven”. I have been thinking about this a lot lately and the only thing I know to do is to ask God to help me to understand.
So … I’m a skimmer when reading, glancing over what doesn’t catch my eye :/ Your pondering led me to look for info on this debt and a search led me to the got questions page for Romans 13:8. One paragraph includes this:
“He chose to not give us judgment and punish us for our sins. Instead, He chose to love us by sacrificing His Son, Jesus, on the cross to pay for our sins. Because of this sacrifice, we are forever indebted to God, and we repay that debt by loving Him and loving one another.”
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May we love God and others fully. ❤️
I understand, Tami, as I wrestle with that, too. My gead m ows but I think my heart can’t absorb the immensity of His forviveness because I, in my humanness, don’t forgive the same way. I hope that makes sense!
Good research, SEARCHING! ❤
Forgiveness and Love ❤️
“Do you see this woman?”
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I love this question. Jesus knew what Simon was thinking about her. Simon did not SEE the woman, he saw a sinner, unworthy of his time and compassion.
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Jesus on the other hand saw her as one made in the image of God, who had turned from her sin and was no longer to be defined by it. Her repentance was a sweeter smelling perfume to Jesus than the contents of her alabaster box.
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“Unless we are aware of our great debt of love, it’s hard to remember who we are and what we are called to do.”
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May I remember all that You, Lord, have forgiven and forgotten.
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MICHELLE P – praying your conversation with Richard went well and it is the first of many that leads to life in Jesus.
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MARI V – praying Caleb has a fantastic trip
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JANE K – praying for your daughter’s recovery and that the grandbaby is doing well.
Me too, Kelly. My initial thought was how intintionally I must guard against the hardness of heart that pride brings. Because my sins may not be like someone else’s sins does not mean they did not cost the Savior His very blood!
Oh how great the Father’s love for us and our great need for His forgiveness! Thank You Jesus.
❤️ Praise the Lord that in His eyes, I am no longer defined by my sins.
Beautiful share, Kelly! ❤
Thank you, Kelly. Baby and mom are doing well❤️
Oh good! Praise God!
Oh what a sweet blessing!
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“Simon did not SEE the woman, he saw a sinner, unworthy of his time and compassion”. Wow! May we look at the people going through the church door, or outside the church door, and see them.
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