Luke 7:47 interrupted my quiet little world this morning. It is part of Jesus’ reply to a Pharisee that was complaining about the overwhelming honor a sinful woman paid to Jesus. The complaint? That Jesus would allow such a sinful woman to even touch Him. Jesus explained very simply the difference between the Pharisee’s reaction to Jesus and the woman’s:
“I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” Luke 7:47
Simply put, this woman was keenly aware of her shortcomings before the Messiah, and wept opening and bitterly at His feet. She worshipped Him with her tears and with her hands. She loved Jesus dearly, unashamedly, almost uncontrollably! She showed Jesus much love.
In contrast, the Pharisee’s interaction with Jesus was luke-warm and self-indulgent. He did not even shown Jesus the common courtesy due a traveler in those times. Why? He felt no indebtedness toward Jesus. He was not aware of his own sinfulness before God, and the forgiveness he so desperately needed. He showed Jesus little love.
I too often show Jesus little love. Forget love, sometimes I show Him little attention. Why? Because I forget the magnitude of my shortcomings. I forget about or minimize the gift of salvation He freely gave me. I take for granted the amazing blessings He has filled my life with. Sometimes I’m so busy seeing everyone else’s sins and shortcomings, I fail to notice and respond to my own (Luke 6:41-42).
Sometimes I fail to respond to Jesus because I just don’t feel the need to. But if I truly consider His place in my life, my natural, immediate overwhelming response would be to love Him. I would love Him much. That is my prayer today.
We used to sing much of Psalm 103 so I have it memorized – “Bless the Lord, Oh my soul, and forget none of His benefits”. The whole section is worth meditating on until you have it internalized.