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Luke 7:48 – Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." (NIV)
There is not a day that goes by that I do not end up saying "Sorry" to God. There is not a Sunday in worship, when the prayers of confession are read and said, that I don't feel guilty and in need of those prayers. Some folks would say that this is because of my Presbyterian Calvinist roots. However, I personally know that it's because I am a sinner who falls short of God's standards, day after day, week after week, and year after year.
Without Christ, there could be no forgiveness for any one of us. He was given total authority from God to pardon our mistakes. He compassionately listens to our personal pleas, especially when we humbly and honestly confess our mistakes to Him. He helps us to overcome temptation, but He is also willing to forgive our faults when we recognize them.
This forgiveness from Jesus can also be found in the gospel story in Luke 7:36-50. The heartbroken woman who wept and poured perfume on Christ's feet must have been carrying a lot of guilt, perhaps for many years. She saw in Jesus the source of her salvation. She recognized her unworthiness, but at the same time, she clamoured for His holiness. She understood what the host of the house had failed to see: Christ was the only One who could forgive her, save her, and restore her as a beloved child of God's grace.
At the end of today, like many other Christians, I will remorsefully come to God and ask Jesus to forgive me. There is no other person or power that I can appeal to for real mercy. There is no other source or entity that I can pray to for total absolution. And at the end of my confessional prayers, from within my mind and heart, I feel the same beautiful words of Christ being conveyed to me, "Your sins are forgiven."
Questions for personal reflection: When and how do I ask Christ to forgive me? Am I willing to see that same forgiveness at work in the lives of other people?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Saviour of the world, as well as of our individual souls. You allow us to come to You each day to confess our faults in order to receive Your grace. Thank You for this blessing, as well as for Your patience and love. In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.
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How true! Thanks for your thoughts.
Thank you for that meaning full message.
So thankful for God’s grace. Good word John.
Thanks John for these words. Blessings to you and yours.
Thank you john,this is something we have as Christians and I long for all of the people of the world to know and understand this. it is an amazing, miraculous blessing.
Thank you John for your simple explanation of what I believe is what all born again believers express with their lives every day. “They will know us by our love” as expressed in our lives through each day we live as saved sinners.
Dear Rev. Stuart:
I want to tell you how much I enjoy the sincerity, truth, personal aspect, and faith conveyed in each and every devotional you submit. Thank you for all that you have given to me over the years.
With regards to today’s meditation, all I can say is “Amen and Amen.”
(Nova Scotia, Canada)
Thank you John for this.
I often think of Luke 5:8 when Simon Peter realizes that he is in the midst of Holiness and says “Leave me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”
Our Lord responded, with kind of a joke,
“C’mon, we begin to fish for men”
So, when I screw up I remember how Our Lord showed mercy and a bit of kindness to Simon Peter.
And then I think of how God picks some of the most unusual people to do His will.
So, I tell God I’m sorry, He forgives, picks me up, and says, “C’mon, let’s get going, there is work to be done”. God bless and may He give you a laugh today!
(Texas)