Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- April 28, 2011
“For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” Luke 7:47 NASB
The breadth of our forgiveness reflects the depth of our love. A person who is forgiven much loves much. Outside of Christ’s forgiveness we all have the same wall of sin between God and us. We are separated from God by our sins, but the cross of Christ tore down sins’ barrier. By faith you are forgiven of our sin and adopted by God.
“He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will” (Ephesians 1:5).
By receiving the grace of God, you transition from the rags of this world to the riches of heaven. Forgiveness is cause for gratitude and thanksgiving. For some, your forgiveness was more pronounced, because your sin was more prevalent. However, the destination is the same for lost sinners—hell. And it is the same for saved sinners—heaven.
Our sin debt could have been more grievous than we realized or were willing to admit. The lust in our hearts was addictive. The anger in our attitude was caustic. Our service was self-serving. But, in spite of our own deceptive devices, God forgave us. Not only has Christ forgiven us of past sins, but also His grace cancels out present and future debts of sin. This all-inclusive coverage of Christ’s forgiveness humbles the heart to love much.
There is no place you can go where the love of God cannot find you. You can run but you cannot hide from the love and grace of God. If you are depressed, He loves and forgives you. If you are frustrated, He loves and forgives you. If you are confused, He loves and forgives you. If you are lost, He loves and forgives you. If you are afraid, He loves and forgives you. If you failed, He loves and forgives you. If you are unfaithful, He loves and forgives you. Nothing can separate you from the love and forgiveness of God!
“Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).
Therefore, you can love much because you have been forgiven much. Gratitude explodes from your heart when you ponder the depths of His forgiveness. The all-encompassing past, present and future sins are wiped clean. The guilt is gone. The shame is erased. Your conscience is clear. You are freed up from sin to love. Your gratitude toward Christ compels you to love Him and people. Sin has been replaced with your Savior’s love.
He loves in you to love through you. Love is your primary language because you have been changed. You are a new creation in Christ. Christianity was not added to your life like a nice to have accessory. Instead, Christ has become your life. Can you phantom where you would be without the grace and forgiveness of God? Celebrate His forgiveness by loving much more. The forgiveness of God facilitates love. To be forgiven is to love. You can love much because you have been forgiven much!
“So we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well” (1 Thessalonians 2:8).
Related Readings: Psalm 5:7, 103:11; 1 Corinthians 13:13; Colossians 2:14; Philemon 1:7
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