Momentum For Monday, February 14th 2022

“People who are forgiven only a little will love only a little.” (Luke 7:47b)

When reading through Scripture and finding that a verse or block of Scripture stands out to me, I’ll just sit on it for a while. I will read it over and over and think on it for days or even a week if needed. Until I can extract and figure out why that verse stands out, I’ll think on it. God is trying to use that verse to teach me something vital, so I need to sit on it until it is revealed. However, the above referenced verse is one that I’ve never been able to conclude. It always hits me and always speaks to me every time I read it.

Yes, I feel like I can understand the gratitude of forgiveness this woman brought to Jesus. My testimony is not the same background as her’s, but it doesn’t need to be. This verse isn’t so much focused on sin, but love.

It’s not about the presence of sin. It’s the awareness of forgiveness. Approach the words “much” or “little” in the verse with a possible different perspective. The descriptive words attached to forgiveness in this verse are not so much about quantity, but depth. To the degree we are aware of our forgiveness of sin is the degree we are capable of loving.

Let me go a little further. The very awareness that brought about shame to Adam in Genesis resulted in distance between man and God. But with Jesus, that same awareness now brings us closer to God because it is wrapped in grace. If your awareness or conviction drives you away from love and towards shame, you’re being deceived by the enemy. That awareness is to bring about love and gratitude.

This week, sit on this chapter. Pour over it daily. Meditate on it. Pray for revelation. Ask God to draw you to a deeper love.

“Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.”

(1 Peter 4:8)