It is easy to receive forgiveness when we desperately seek it, right?

If God is the One we wronged, we quickly go to Him and ask His forgiveness. Then as His word says, we feel FREE from the guilt and condemnation of sin.

“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:8-9 NASB

Don’t you love this passage? I do!

But what does forgiveness does to our hearts other than lifting up our heavy burdens of guilt and regrets?

Listen:

“And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.” “A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.”” Luke 7:40-47 NASB

Did you see it?

The woman expressed so much love and care to Jesus that Jesus couldn’t just pass her. How did this woman love Jesus more than others, especially more than Simon? She loved Jesus more than Simon because she’s realized how much of her sins Jesus had forgiven. That realization deepens her love for Jesus.

So, to deepen our love for Jesus, the only thing we need to do is to sit and count how many of our sins He so far had forgiven and how He still invites us saying, “Come to Me, My child.” When we hear His call and take one step towards Him, He is not like He is taking another step towards us but He runs to us (Luke 15:11-32).

Yes, we worship such a loving and merciful God who spoke to us in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:1-2).

But the truth is our love for Jesus is cold. Why? We don’t think we are that bad sinners. We think we are nice guys who just need to “adjust” few bad manners. That is all!

Isn’t that funny?

My friends, we are candidates of hell! Each one of us!

Just let that truth simmer in your heart and soul!

Do you know that the same is true about our relationships. For example, in a marriage of one woman and one man, when forgiveness is given, love flourishes and deepens even more.

When one refuses to give forgiveness, love dies.

If love is dead in your marriage, maybe forgiveness has being held up somewhere like a hostage. If it has, set it free and let love flourish again in your marriage. ///