"...Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven- as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little, loves little..." - Luke 7:46
He would is loved much, loves much. He who has been forgiven much, forgives much. How can you not be gracious to your neighbor who has wronged you, if you yourself have been forgiven of everything by a most gracious & loving Heavenly Father? We must realize how much we have sinned & how much we have been forgiven before we can truly Love others.
In Luke 7, Jesus tells the Pharisee Simon a parable about a man who loans money to two men- one a large amount & one a small amount. Neither of the men could afford to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Of the two men, which will love him more? Simon answers, "I suppose the one who has the bigger debt forgiven." "You have judge correctly," Jesus tells him.
At the same time, Simon has the audacity to pass judgement on a prositute groveling at Jesus' feet. Unlike Simon, she was aware of who she was without the Messiah. She was overcome by her love for Him. And she was confident of Who He was. If that''s what it takes for me to Love on that level, isn't it worth it?
Do you look like you have it all together, like you have all the right answers? Do we really think that much of Christ? Are you so overcome by your sin that it brings you to tears? Are you aware of who you are apart from Christ? Are you so humbled by God's mercy that you would wipe His feet with your hair? Are you ready to really serve Him? Why do you do what you do? Are you so confident in His power to forgive that you would kiss His feet? Are you so motivated by His love that you would annoint His feet with oil?
"God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, & God in them... We love because He first Loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates his brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother or sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And He has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother & sister." - 1 John 4:16, 19-20
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you Love one another." - John 13:34-35
"If all you do is love the loveable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. In a word, what I am saying is grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously & graciously toward others, the way God lives towards you." - Matthew 5:46-48 (The Message translation)
"From everyone who has been given much, much more will be demanded; & from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." - Luke 12:48b
Why is He our Hope & Salvation? Because we are nothing without Him!
Radical generosity demands a Gospel explanation. Live a life of Gospel explanation. Motivated by a heart of passionate Love for your Savior.
*** Text roughly adapted from my sermon notes taken from Jim Schutz's (Risen Lord Community Church) sermon on Sunday, July 12, 2010 entitled "I Love Him More" over Luke 7:36-50 ***
He would is loved much, loves much. He who has been forgiven much, forgives much. How can you not be gracious to your neighbor who has wronged you, if you yourself have been forgiven of everything by a most gracious & loving Heavenly Father? We must realize how much we have sinned & how much we have been forgiven before we can truly Love others.
In Luke 7, Jesus tells the Pharisee Simon a parable about a man who loans money to two men- one a large amount & one a small amount. Neither of the men could afford to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Of the two men, which will love him more? Simon answers, "I suppose the one who has the bigger debt forgiven." "You have judge correctly," Jesus tells him.
At the same time, Simon has the audacity to pass judgement on a prositute groveling at Jesus' feet. Unlike Simon, she was aware of who she was without the Messiah. She was overcome by her love for Him. And she was confident of Who He was. If that''s what it takes for me to Love on that level, isn't it worth it?
Do you look like you have it all together, like you have all the right answers? Do we really think that much of Christ? Are you so overcome by your sin that it brings you to tears? Are you aware of who you are apart from Christ? Are you so humbled by God's mercy that you would wipe His feet with your hair? Are you ready to really serve Him? Why do you do what you do? Are you so confident in His power to forgive that you would kiss His feet? Are you so motivated by His love that you would annoint His feet with oil?
"God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, & God in them... We love because He first Loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates his brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother or sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And He has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother & sister." - 1 John 4:16, 19-20
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you Love one another." - John 13:34-35
"If all you do is love the loveable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. In a word, what I am saying is grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously & graciously toward others, the way God lives towards you." - Matthew 5:46-48 (The Message translation)
"From everyone who has been given much, much more will be demanded; & from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." - Luke 12:48b
Why is He our Hope & Salvation? Because we are nothing without Him!
Radical generosity demands a Gospel explanation. Live a life of Gospel explanation. Motivated by a heart of passionate Love for your Savior.
*** Text roughly adapted from my sermon notes taken from Jim Schutz's (Risen Lord Community Church) sermon on Sunday, July 12, 2010 entitled "I Love Him More" over Luke 7:36-50 ***
Gret post . Sorry it has been so long since I came over. Was great to see your family at farm day. Guess I will see you at the ball next.
ReplyDeleteThank you Valerie! How have you been? No worries, no reason to apologize! I'm glad that you enjoyed the Farm Festival. I missed seeing y'all. Yes, I hope to see you soon also. Do you know when the CHEF dance practices start? We have not heard anything yet. Have a good week!
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