To Love Much

Luke 7:40-50 - And Jesus answered and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." So he said, "Teacher, say it." 
"There was a certain creditor who had 2 debtors. One owed 500 denari, and the other 50. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell me, therefore, which of them will love him more?" Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." And He said to him, "You have rightly judged."
 

Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."

Then He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" Then He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."

We can glean more than a few lessons from this story I am certain. Here are a few the Lord has ministered to me:

 

It is important that we confess our sins and acknowledge them before God (who will then forgive them, 1 John 1:9 tells us) because in this we are made aware/conscious of how much He has forgiven us-- which in turn brings thankfulness, praise, worship and love to our hearts toward our heavenly Father.

And why was this woman saved/forgiven? Because of her faith in and love tward God, and the acknowledgement of Jesus as her Savior and Lord-- worthy of worship and adoration. This is the same way Abraham was saved: He believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness. And this is the same way all saints of the Old Testament and New Testament alike have been and are saved-- By faith in and love toward God and His Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

Verse 50 shows us that when we are saved, having put our faith in Jesus Christ, we can "go in peace". Salvation by faith brings us peace with God, and that immediately! There are no manner of works to be done before we can have this peace.
 

We don't believe and then (a) get baptized, (b) get circumsized, (c) keep the law, (d) become a church member, (e) evangelize, (f) keep the Sabbath... NO-- There is absolutely NOTHING that comes between putting our faith in Christ and having peace with God, the forgivenness of our sins. "Having begun in the Spirit, are you now going to be perfected by the flesh?" Paul asked. The answer to this rhetorical question is-- NO! Of course not!
 

Thank You Lord that You have made peace between sinful man and a holy God by dying on the cross for our sins. Help me to be ever mindful of Your grace and forgivenness, that I may be one who loves much. Amen!