Have you ever done something so bad that you didn’t think there was any way God would forgive you? Or maybe it was multiple things and all of a sudden you realize all the bad stuff has piled up so high that you wonder…how can God possibly forgive all of this? Or maybe what you have done has been so hurtful to another human. You have mistaken their lack of forgiveness or maybe they have forgiven but haven’t healed and their lack of healing makes you think you haven’t been forgiven. Somehow Satan has lied to you. You have believed his lie and you have equated this with God not being able to forgive you.
Don’t be mistaken or DECEIVED. Never mistake a man/woman’s actions of hurt, forgiveness or unforgiveness as equal to God’s. They aren’t and never will be. That is why God commands us to forgive 70X7. God is God. He not only forgives immediately when we ask, but He is able to forget…and never remember. That doesn’t mean that the law of reaping and sowing doesn’t apply to us on this earth. There will always be consequences from our actions…we choose that, but God is God. We must never expect from humans what they are not capable of but understand, we serve a HOLY and Awesome God.
I love the story found in Luke 7:36-50! It’s the story of a Pharisee, Simon, inviting Jesus to dinner at his home. A very sinful woman heard Jesus was there so she came with an alabaster jar of perfume. She stood behind Jesus weeping. She wet Jesus’ feet with her tears then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. The Pharisee who had invited Jesus said to himself (very important point, he didn’t say it out loud!), “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of women she is—-that she is a sinner.”
Excuse me…have you ever had a thought like this? You look at someone and think, “If they knew what I know about him/her.” I confess I am guilty. I also know that God can read my thoughts just like he did the Pharisee’s. I have repented and am much more aware of my thoughts and the sin that takes place in my thoughts…it corrupts.
God reads our minds and knows our thoughts!!! Just saying. Maybe you have never thought those thoughts but understand God is a mind and thought reader. We are accountable for not just what we say, but what we think as well. Just a healthy reminder.
On with the story…Because Jesus could read the “holier than thou” thoughts of the Pharisee, he told a story to illustrate his point. The story went like this, “Two people owed money to a certain money lender. One owed him 500 denarii and the other only 50. Neither had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both.”
First lesson–please get this–there is no price tag on a sin that God will not forgive and wash away. Often times we reap the consequences of our sin on this earth but He forgives all sins except the one of rejecting HIM as our Lord. Some sins have more serious earthly consequences….but to God…the price tag is insignificant. If we come to God and are sincere in our remorse of our sin, (remember, He can read our thoughts and what is in our heart) HE WILL forgive. Do not equate God’s forgiveness with man’s. :o)
The story continues with a question. “‘Now which of them will love him more?’ Simon replied, ‘I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.’ “You have judged correctly,’ Jesus said.” Jesus goes on to say in verse 44, “‘Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown.'”
Do you see this???? Jesus points out the ACTIONS of the woman. Her GREAT LOVE was demonstrated in her actions. Her sins were BIG but they were forgiven and it was very apparent by the sincerity of her thoughts which were carried out by her physical actions. Her remorse and her view of God? It was in her actions.
People, we cannot head-fake God in the sincerity department. Our gratitude, our love, our understanding of our helplessness without God? It all shows in our actions. Salvation isn’t about works. It is a free gift to the Biggest and most horrendous of sinners that commit the most heinous of crimes. But our sincerity is judged by God in our actions toward HIM, our LOVE toward HIM.
Understand today…no sin is too big for God not to forgive….and our remorse for our sin is shown in actions of love toward Him. How are you demonstrating your love for God over the sins you commit and are forgiven for when you ask? Am I? are you? truly remorseful over my/your/our sin…or are we busy judging someone else’s sin as worse than ours?
I encourage you in this…on judgment day…you won’t be standing with anyone else…telling God what to do for them…nor will they be standing there with you. I am speaking to myself and if it applies to you then good. I hope it helps. But we are going to sign a score card one day and be accountable for every shot we take or don’t take.
We have enough to be concerned about with our own sin without taking on the role that the Pharisee took in his mind about the “sinful” woman. Let’s allow God to be God…in our own lives. We were never created to be God in someone else’s life. We can be like Him in how we live and treat others. But to be God? The job is too big. No one has big enough shoulders for that except God. Focus on my/your/our thoughts and behaviors by letting God be God. We should have no time to play the role of God and judge in someone else’s life.
Exceptions can apply as you are teaching and training your kids in righteousness…but beg for God to give you His grace in all of your dealings with your kids. You don’t want to give them the wrong impression of who God is! Ask Him daily to give you His mind, His actions in training your child…so that they can experience God in you/me.
My final encouragement for today? Seek God’s forgiveness no matter what you have done..or not done. Allow His grace to flow freely through you and allow your ACTIONS to SCREAM of your LOVE for HIM. :o)