How will I respond to God's forgiveness?
“Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that's why she loved so much".
Luke 7:47 (CSB)
I attend a large church in O'fallon, Illinois, that frequently hosts big conferences and events. Recently, our church housed a Matthew West concert in our worship center. My family and I met some friends there that night, and to ensure that our large group of 12 could all sit together, we decided to scope out the upper side loft of the church. We didn't have a perfect view of Matthew West, but we did have a great view of the audience attending. While I was a bit underwhelmed with our field of vision, I was just happy to be there worshipping with good friends. I also had no clue how much that view would mean to me by the end of the evening.
During the concert, Matthew West gave an exciting shoutout to a group of men who had lined the back of the sanctuary during the show. Initially, I thought these men were security guards as they all wore matching shirts and never seemed to sit down throughout the entire event. So, it came as a surprise to me when Mr. West greeted the group of men in the back row who, he explained, "had never given up on God's grace." He then invited the crowd to warmly welcome these men, who he explained were there with the Adult & Teen Challenge Program of St. Louis. ATC is a residential treatment center for people dealing with addiction and other life-controlling issues. Their goal is to provide help and healing through recovery by equipping residents with biblical truths and teaching them to rely on the healing power of Jesus. ATC treated these men to a night out at a Christian concert as part of the process.
There was excitement in the room when Matthew West recognized these men. The large crowd cheered and roared to welcome them, and I think it touched each person's heart who gathered there that night. But when the last song of the night played, a popular song titled "The God who stays," it seemed that God had given me the best vantage point of anyone else in that entire sanctuary. I still couldn't see much of Matthew West, but as I gazed over the sea of people in our comfortable, midwestern, church-going congregation, I saw some but very few hands held high in the air dotting random spaces throughout the crowd. But as Mr. West sang the lyrics, "My sin can't separate. My scars can't separate. My failures can't separate. I'm yours forever," my heart was overwhelmed with bittersweet joy as I saw that entire back row of men with their hands held high in the air. It wasn't just one hand, but both- every single one of those men, fully submitting to and worshiping the God who had stayed. As the concert lights drifted and reflections of light and shadow danced across their hope-filled faces, I could see and feel the emotion and gratitude pouring out of them, many with eyes closed as they sang along. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I held both of my arms straight up in the air along with them. I, too, understand those emotions of gratitude for my costly forgiveness that I couldn't earn and certainly don't deserve. His love is a precious treasure to those of us who behold how unworthy we are of receiving it yet, understand that He gave it freely anyway.
In Luke 7:36-50, we learn of a woman who shared a similar gratitude for her forgiveness. Jesus was a guest at the house of Simon, a pharisee when a woman who was known to the town as a sinner unexpectedly arrived carrying an alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. Disregarding her unwelcomed presence, she knelt at Jesus' feet and wept as she washed His feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. Then, overcome with emotion and thanksgiving, she kissed His feet and anointed Him with her perfume. To this day, this story stirs my heart as it paints such beautiful imagery of a desperate soul in complete surrender at the recognition of what His grace has done. It was an expression of love and devotion like no other. I suspect that nothing in the world could have kept her from Him at that moment, certainly not the judgment or condemnation she would experience from others.
As Simon saw this happening, he thought to himself, "If Jesus were a prophet, He would know who and what kind of woman this was touching Him. She was a sinner!" Jesus, understanding Simon's thoughts, proceeded to tell Simon a parable: Jesus said, "A creditor had two debtors. One owed him 500 denarii, and the other 50. Since neither could pay him back, he graciously forgave them both. So, which one of them will love him more? "I suppose the one he forgave more," said Simon. Jesus told Simon that he was correct. Jesus commended this woman for the love she poured out. He then recalled that Simon hadn't kissed Him, given Him water to wash His feet with, or anointed Him with oil- all common practices for a well-respected guest in a culture that greatly valued hospitality, but Simon had failed to provide any of these things.
Jesus said, “Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that's why she loved so much". (Luke 7:47) CSB
Friend, such beauty is found within a humble heart. Whether you identify with the sinful woman, with Simon, or somewhere in between, we must understand that we have all missed the mark. There isn't one of us who has earned God's forgiving grace. Some of us have felt the effects of missing that mark much more than others. And while we may have allowed our sin to take us into dark and desolate places, I suppose you could say that we've now been given a better vantage point in the concert of His free and unmerited grace. Because to those of us who understand how much we are forgiven, having access to Jesus feels better than any front-row VIP experience this world could ever offer.
If you've never experienced this kind of gratitude for His forgiveness, I want to remind you that your sin, no matter how small you feel it may be, still placed Jesus on the cross. And sweet friend, I don't say that to shame you but because I want you to experience the sweetness of His grace from this vantage point as well. His precious forgiveness should never be taken for granted, and I'm convinced that if we understood the magnitude of what His grace has done for us, no one and nothing would be able to stop us from pouring the rest of our lives out for His glory. Of course, one day, when we meet Him face to face, this will be our reality- but until that day comes, how will you respond to His forgiveness and love?