I have not always lived for Jesus. I was of two minds, wanting God’s favor but living to please myself. I have been forgiven much, and so I love Him much. If Jesus’ sacrifice is sufficient to provide “a wretch like me” with forgiveness and salvation, then it is sufficient for you, also. That is why the following scripture is so powerful:
One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”
“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:36-50 ESV)
What was the faith that was able to save the woman? It was the faith to believe in Jesus.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life ... (John 3:16 ESV)
God saves us because he loves us:
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1John 4:9-10 NIV)
We are humbled. We are grateful. We love Him - just like the woman did at the home of Simon the Pharisee. It leaves us in awe. In the words of the old Southern folk hymn:What wondrous love is this,
O my soul! O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this,
That caused the Lord of bliss,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my
soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul.
When I was sinking down,
Sinking down, sinking down;
When I was sinking down, sinking down
When I was sinking down,
Beneath God's righteous frown,
Christ laid aside his crown
For my soul, for my soul!
Christ laid aside his crown for my soul!
To God and to the Lamb,
I will sing, I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb, I will sing.
To God and to the Lamb,
Who is the great I AM,
While millions join the theme,
I will sing, I will sing!
While millions join the theme, I will sing!
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Do you hear Jesus calling? Come to Him. Be saved. He loves you, and He wants you to be with Him forever.
Acknowledgement:
All Bible verses were copied from https://biblehub.com/
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