Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Thursday, July 4, 2019

"Therefore her sinsâ€"and they are manyâ€"are forgiven, for she loved me much; but one who is forgiven little, shows little love."¹

You may recall the story where Jesus was invited to have lunch with one of the Pharisees. While he was there a woman of the streetsâ€"a prostituteâ€"heard that Jesus was there and came, fell at his feet, weeping, and wiped her tears from his feet with her hair, and then anointed his feet with expensive perfume.

In our jargon, the religious Pharisee was horrified and in his heart judged Jesus for accepting this sinful woman's loving attention and humble attitude.

Jesus, knowing what was in the Pharisee's heart went on to explain that because this woman came to him pouring out her heart, her many sins were forgiven. Then he made a very simple but profound statement: "He who has been forgiven little loves little."

Or to put it another way: "He who has been forgiven much loves much."

This is so true, when in genuine humility we confess our sins, not only to God but to a trusted friend or two, and experience their love and acceptance, little by little we learn to forgive and love ourselves. So the more honest and open we are, the more we can be forgiven and loved. And the more we are forgiven and loved the more loving and forgiving we become.

Suggested Prayer: "Dear God, please give me the honesty and courage to bring to the light and confess every secret sin, mixed motive, jealousies, pride, acts of sin, sins of the spirit, sins of failureâ€"every sinâ€"confess these not only to You, but also to a trusted friend or two and experience Your love and forgiveness, their loving acceptance, and become a much more loving, accepting and forgiving child of yours. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name. Amen."

1. Luke 7:47 (TLB).

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