Seeing Ourselves through the Lens of His Grace

I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”

Luke 7:47 NLT

When Jesus was anointed by a “sinful woman,” likely a prostitute, at the home of Simon the Pharisee, He received her extravagant act of worship and forgave her sins.

Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Luke 7:48 NLT

‭‭And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Luke 7:50 NLT

What was this sinful woman’s expression of faith that had saved her?

By anointing Jesus in the way that she did, she was acknowledging that He was the Messiah.

Be weeping, covering His feet with her tears, she was demonstrating that she recognized her sinfulness.

By kneeling in Jesus presence, she was indicating her desire to be forgiven of her sin.

It’s powerful that Jesus contrasts self-righteous Simon, who did none of these things for Jesus, with this sinful woman.

All too often, I slip into a self-righteous Simon mentality, and having been saved by grace, I somehow now feel as though God loves me or is proud of me or will use me because of how good, or how dedicated, or how ___________ I have been.

Saved by grace.

Kept by grace.

Living by grace.

Fueled by grace.

Amazed by grace.

The further along the road I travel with Jesus, I should never grow beyond being overwhelmed by His love for me.

The one who has been forgiven much loves much.

My capacity to love God and others is directly related to my understanding and acceptance of His love for me.

This blogpost originally appeared at: Seeing Ourselves through the Lens of His Grace – Sonlife is based upon Sonlife’s study, Knowing Him / A 50 Day Study in the Life of Christ / Day 31