Forgive Much: A Communion Meditation from Pastor Jim

“Forgive Our Debts, as We Forgive Our Debtors”

What kinds of things do you and I say about our sins? Do we say,

“They’re no big deal.”… “Time will erase them.”… “I didn’t really mean to do or say that.”

But, we need to realize sins are “a big deal” and “time does not eliminate them” and “sin does come out of your and my heart and mouth.” Then other questions arise, like, “Who will deliver us from this body of death and these sins? And, does it matter how we view these sins?”

Let’s go to the One who can thoroughly forgive and hear what he says to those earnestly seek his forgiveness.

In Luke 7, we hear Jesus, who understands and recognizes the seriousness of sin and the sincere repentance of a sinful woman (like you and me). He points out her humility and… says 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 (of sorrow) 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.”

Who delivered her from her body of death… from her sin? Well, Jesus does and he goes on to say,

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.  Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”  (Luke 7: 47-48, 50)

Jesus can see the fruits of her (and our) great forgiveness and can see the truly repentant life by how she (and we) forgive others.

“He who is forgiven little, loves little.” The converse is true too. Jesus pointed this out by declaring, “She loved much.” Thus, “He who is forgiven much, loves much.”

Thus, one of the signs your and my sins are forgiven and we have saving faith is that we love and forgive others because of Jesus’ forgiveness.

Think on these things. 

This same Lord Jesus, who forgave this woman, on the night in which he was betrayed, took bread, and after giving thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

In the same way also Jesus took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

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Father, you see our great need and are not ashamed of us. We are crippled and afflicted by weakness and sin, but your Son rushed to rescue us. He took on the weakness of our human bodies and entered our sin infested world in order to live the life we could not live. We praise Jesus for seeing the needs of those around him, like this woman, for loving her and us in our brokenness, and serving us with pure compassion, clean hands, and a perfect heart. He forgave much and demonstrated his great love. Change our little, unloving, unforgiving hearts to forgive like His.

In the Savior’s name,

Amen


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