Advent Day 24: Jesus' forgiveness
Sometimes you go to blog or post about a text that really doesn’t need to be talked about rather prayed about and implemented. Col. 3 and Luke 7 (seen below are two texts that demand that type of reaction).
Father, We are just days from celebrating your sons arrival into this world. I’m ready for the time. My heart yearns to be with people I know and love. I want to sing with my family of faith and enjoy watching the surprise of presents opened. I want to eat sweets and sip coffee through the day. And yet this Scripture shocks me back to reality. In modern times we need to be shocked and woken up more than anything else. We, at least I, can become quickly lazy and dull enamored with the shinny things of this world rather than the humility of Christ.
The gift that you gave us was forgiveness. It is not a gift that we will ever grow out of. It won’t break or fade. It is a beautiful gift but also a practical one (for we NEED it desperately). Ultimately, like all good gifts, it is meant to be shared.
So often I am quick to accept the gift of forgiveness from your hand for myself but so slow to extend that gift to others. The woman in Luke 7 realized the gift and it produced worship in extravagance. I often grab the gift and it produces prideful self-righteousness. Of course this means that I haven’t understood fully the depth of my sin or the love of your heart. I must realize afresh that you have loved me much because you have forgiven me much. And then out of your love for me I am to extend love and peace and forgiveness to others. This is the only type of re-gifting that isn’t tacky. Rather you give a gift in forgiveness to us that is designed to be re-gifted to others.
This season I need to extend forgiveness to old grudges, new perceptions, hard relationships and emotional scabs at which I continually to pick. That above all else I would let the “peace of Christ rule in your heart” that you have forgiven and loved me.
Whatever we do this season may we do it in the name of Christ. May his word dwell in us just as THE Word has dwelled among us. Christ you came in your incarnation and got your hands dirty in this sinful world so that we may boldly enter the messiness of our lives. Help us to go to the places of our hearts we avoid with the light of your forgiveness and grace. May the soft glow of Christmas lights translate into a spotlight to show us our sin and therefore your great grace.
Amen and Amen.
Luke 7:36-50
A Sinful Woman Forgiven
36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. 37 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, 38and 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. 39Now 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." 40And Jesus answering said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he answered, "Say it, Teacher."
41"A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?" 43Simon answered, "The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt." And he said to him, "You have judged rightly." 44Then 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. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." 48And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." 49Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this, who even forgives sins?" 50And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
Colossians 3:12-17
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
