Eddie D. is a former OneWay intern now studying at Moody Bible Institute
After facing rebuke for letting a woman kiss His feet and wipe her tears off with her hair, Jesus tells a story about a moneylender who had two debtors.
One owed him much money and the other owed little (Luke 7:41-47). With both debts being canceled, Simon, the Pharisee who rebuked Jesus, rightly points out that the one who owed the bigger debt would love the moneylender more, as he was forgiven such a big debt.
Now going back to the woman. Jesus declares, “I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”
Oh, to see ourselves in this story! Would we realize and never forget how we are much like that woman who is crying at the feet of Jesus? As we realize how much we have been forgiven, it creates a sense of awe and amazement that refreshes our love for God and people in a radical way that leads to action.
Let us never lose sight of our only hope for the forgiveness of our sins, found in the gospel of Christ Jesus. It is not only non-believers that need to hear this good news, but Christians as well. It is important to daily remember who we are in the sight of a Holy God. Brothers and sisters in Christ, I write this gospel as a reminder to you and to me:
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Gen. 1:1)
“When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.” (Rom. 5:12, NLT)
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23)
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8).
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” (John 14:6)
“The kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mk 1:15)
I hope these verses still bring you shock and awe. It is said that familiarity breeds contempt, and I suspect that a big reason why evangelism is not common in the Church today is because we fail to daily remind ourselves of the scandal of the gospel and the beauty of the cross.
Take a minute to just go back and meditate on the truths above. Sit under the beauty of the gospel before moving forward. Would God give us a deeper love for Him and for people as we realize the implications of the words we read.
Oh, God, let us stand forever in wonder and amazement that you became flesh and made your dwelling among us. How high and wide and long and deep is Your love for us.
During this time of COVID-19, people may be stuck and distant. However, our God is not. Our God transcends social distancing, stay-at-home orders, and any virus that could ever come into this world. Jesus commands us to take the good news above and tell it to everyone.
Even during this time when the world seems to be on pause, the Great Commission is as active as ever. As we meditate on the beauty of the Gospel, would it create a sense of urgency in us to not let a day go by without doing something that will matter 100 years from now, namely telling others about this good news at a time when many people are thinking about eternal things.
We who are followers of Jesus are just like that woman who has been forgiven much. As we contemplate how great is the debt we have been forgiven, would it drive us to urgently and passionately tell others about this great gift.
Who can you reach out to today?
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