08.14.07 thequest UPdate

thequest family,

Ever come across something that percolates in your mind and spirit. I came across this article by our friend Ed Waken (who will be with us in October) and thought it was so appropriate to share with you today:

How Much Have You Been Forgiven?

"For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little." Luke 7:47

Luke 747 (7:47) is a Jumbo Jet Verse. This prostitute knew she had done a whole lot against God's way of living. She knew she could never stand before God because of how she sold herself to men. She also probably felt horrible that she thought so little of herself and that men treated her so poorly. Read Luke 7:36-39 to get a small feel of how the religious leaders felt/thought about her. This woman needed Jesus' forgiveness and His gentle and kind touch on her heart. She certainly had sinned much.

On the other hand, the Pharisee who invited Jesus to a meal at his home thought that his life was pretty much together. I assume he knew that from time to time he made some mistakes but, he made his sin offerings to the Lord so he and God were pretty close. He was the example setter for the Jewish community, his act has better have been together.

This scenario is what brought Jesus to as Simon the Pharisee a question. Jesus said, "A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So, which of them will love him more?" Simon thought it over and confidently stated, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." Jesus told him that he was correct.

Jesus turned to the woman who has spilling her tears and expensive perfume on his feet and drying his feet with her hair and told Simon that this woman realizes how badly she has sinned and therefore she is repentant. She has sinned much and knows she has been forgiven much and therefore, loves much - just look at how she is loving me.

You Simon, you think you have sinned little and have dealt with it. Therefore you think that you don't have too much to be forgiven for and therefore, you love little - you would rather challenge me than worship me.

So, how much have you been forgive? Maybe a better question is how much do you realize you have been forgiven? The answer lies in how you live your life. Do you live with gratefulness and by loving others well? Or do you live by thinking you just might know better than some and try to disengage for those a little more ugly than you'd like to hang out with?

Let me suggest that you spend some time today at the feet of Jesus in silence and ponder just how much He has forgiven you. If you need some help, read Isaiah 6 and Romans 3 but end with Romans 5:8 and 8:1.

Blessings on your journey,
Ed
http://edwaken.blogspot.com/


Thanks bro. Thank you JESUS!

Press on,
Mike

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