Little is Forgiven

“Little is forgiven the one whose love is small." Luke 7:47

What a dramatic turn of events in this chapter of Luke! Simon, a Pharisee, invites Jesus to dinner at his home. Jesus accepts, and as He reclines, his legs and feet stretched out away from the table, a woman of some reputation comes uninvited. She is weeping, and she uses her hair to wipe away the dirt and grime of Jesus' feet. She opens her precious perfumed oil in its alabaster vase, and uses it on Jesus' feet. We can imagine Simon with a little sneer on his mouth. He is a little amused by this, too entertained to put a stop to this intrusion into his home. He should have had her thrown out for her impertinence, but he likes seeing this so-called prophet and teacher being pampered by a "sinner"! During the first century, if a woman let down her hair, she could be divorced by her husband, and here, this woman, not only uncovered her hair, but was using her tresses to wipe Jesus' feet! If this ‘prophet’, Jesus, was really wise, Simon thought, he should know what sort of woman she was and would not have allowed her to touch him!!!!

But of course, Jesus knows everything Simon is thinking, all the nuances, and He also knows what the woman is thinking and feeling and going through. Just as He knows our heart and mind as well! Oh the shame! Jesus sees all the condemnation and judgement in our mind. The lack of love in our heart. He knows when we look at others with indifference, when there is no charity in our spirit for others who need our help. What did Jesus say? "Little is forgiven the one whose love is small." Do we want to be forgiven? Then we have to tap into the well of love that God has for us and for all sinners like us. We need to see ourselves and others the way God sees us. Then there will be no room for condemnation, only compassion.

Not Good!

"It is not good for man to be alone..." Genesis 2:18

 

God is so involved in our lives that He sees our needs and meets it. What God did for Adam in the garden visibly, He does for us today invisibly. He saw that Adam needed a partner, a helpmate suitable for him. He made a woman and in v. 22, God "brought her to the man". Brought. It's in all my Bibles. God brought Eve to Adam. He is the first matchmaker! He certainly brought me to Luigi (big smile)!

I do believe God brings people into our lives because it is not good for us to be alone. He knows we need friends, mentors, helpmates, encouragers and people who support and appreciate us. It's good to have a spouse, friends, loving relationships that God brings into our life. BUT people change and may disappoint us, relationships can be risky, messy and costly. WE change. No one, not even our spouse, can fully satisfy us, truly understand us, accept us, and give us everything we need. 

But there is ONE who can. Lord, I know that I can come to You in my brokenness, with all my idiosyncrasies and failings and sins. You accept me as I am. You are my true forever and ever friend! And I can be a better wife and mother, a more sincere friend, a more loving companion to others because of Your overflowing mercy and grace. I look to You first to fill me up so I can be a channel of Your love to others. 

Not Too Mysterious!

"For this command that I enjoin on you today is not too mysterious and remote for you." Dt. 30:11

The book of Deuteronomy is known as the crown jewel of the Pentateuch, the 5 books of God's Law, where He lays down clearly what He expects of us.  The teachings were given by God to Moses who wrote them down. Although there are portions of the Bible difficult to understand, the verses in the 30th chapter of Deuteronomy shows us that God desired that we understand His laws so that He could bless us. He gives us a glimpse of His sense of humor when He says, "My commandments are not in heaven that you should ask who will get it there. It's not beyond the sea! It is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it!" 

It seemed as if when His people still could not get it, when they still inexplicably continuously turned away from Him and chose other gods, He sent His Son Jesus, to speak as a man speaks, and act as a man acts. If God's law was very near to us during Moses' time, how much more so now that Jesus came to deliver His message more clearly? 

Lord, may I not miss any part of Your message! You did everything, including sacrificing Your Son, so that we could understand and obey You, and all that, just so You could bless us! May we savor Your Word, plant it in our hearts, and follow Your way!