Day 13: I Love Because I’m Loved, I Forgive Because I’m Forgiven by Jesus

The more we know how much we are forgiven of our sins and loved by our Heavenly Father, the more we are able, in return, to forgive and love others. That is why it is very important to know and believe that we are forgiven much and loved much, because that is how much we relate to others as well!

Take this story as an example. Jesus was eating at the home of a Pharisee named Simon, and a woman – described as a sinner, came and wept at Jesus’ feet. The woman anointed His feet with oil while wiping His feet with her hair and kissing them. Simon, of course, had a problem with her being there, showing outward expression of gratitude and humility towards Jesus. And right on cue, Jesus told a parable about a certain creditor who had two debtors – one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When both had nothing to repay their debts, the creditor freely forgave them both. (Luke 7:41:42)

Then Jesus asking Simon a question: “Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love the creditor more?”. And correctly, Simon replied that it would be the debtor with the bigger debt.

And Jesus said to him, “You have rightly judged.” Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

Luke 7:43-47,50

Meditate on this truth for a bit, based on Jesus’ words: To whom little is forgiven, the same loves little. In other words, the more we have a revelation or realization of how much we are loved and forgiven, the same measure we love and forgive others.

This brings us to the next parable by Jesus about the unforgiving servant: There was a certain king who wanted to account the debt owed by a servant; this servant owed him ten thousand talents. Because the servant did not have enough money to settle his account, he pleaded for mercy for his debt to be forgiven. And the king was moved with compassion and forgave his debt. Upon release of his debt, the servant in turn found one of his fellow servant who owed him a hundred denarii. This other servant was pleading to be forgiven of his debt, but did not find mercy from the servant who was just forgiven by the king. He threw the fellow servant to prison for not paying his debt. The king, after hearing this story, called the servant whom he forgave the ten thousand talents. The king was angry and rebuked the servant: “Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?” (Matthew 18:33). And the king delivered this servant to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. 

Friends, from the parable, notice what Jesus, through the king’s words, spoke to the unforgiving servant: “Should you not also have had compassion, just as I had pity on you?” The way we have compassion and forgiveness towards others is a function of how much we know and believe that our God has compassion and forgiveness towards us. The way we deal with others depends on how we see our God deals with us. Thus, it really behooves us to know Him more – because as we see and experience His love, compassion and forgiveness towards each one of us, that is how we also relate to others.

We love because He first loved us.

1 John 4:19

Be kind and tender-hearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32

What separate Christ-believers from the rest of the world is our love, compassion and forgiveness to the people we relate in a regular basis. But this love, compassion and forgiveness is not rooted in anything else but what God, through Jesus Christ, has already shown and given us. The more we have a revelation and realization of this love, compassion and forgiveness, the more we are able to freely share this same love, compassion and forgiveness to others.

Reflection Questions:

How much do you know of God’s love, compassion and forgiveness towards you? Do you REALLY know His love, compassion and forgiveness?

How do you usually relate with others – in terms of loving them, having compassion towards them, and forgiving those who have hurt and caused pain in your life? Will having more revelation and realization – of what God, through Jesus Christ, did for you, in you and through you – help in how you deal with others?

Radical Faith in Action:

Ask God, through the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit, to teach you more about Jesus Christ and what He’s accomplished for you, in you and through you. Realize that as the revelation and experience of Jesus Christ increases in your life, how you relate with others starts to be affected in a positive way. You’ll learn to love and have compassion towards others more, and you’ll forgive others just as easily!

Having a radical faith in believing that we have a radical savior in Jesus Christ will translate in a radical life – freed from the burden of unforgiveness and overflowing with love and compassion as we relate to a world needing of radical change!