(Read: Luke
7:36-50)
“We often find it hard to get what we want, because we do
not want the best; God finds it hard to give, because He would give the best,
and we will not take it.” (George MacDonald paraphrase)
Like many people during the Christmas Season, I love to
participate in gift-giving. Whether it’s delighting family members or friends
with that “special something”, or celebrating Christ’s birth by giving to those
in need through “angel trees”, special donations, or other opportunities,
such as Operation Christmas Child, which shares the Gospel and gives shoeboxes
full of small gift items to children around the world. It’s always
heart-warming to hear stories about the joy impoverished children have when
they open their boxes – of course they like the toys, but they also get excited
over items like soap, toothpaste, or socks! But then there are the other
people on the gift-giving list. The ones who are hard to get for. Mostly
because they seem to already have everything they want.
During Christmas, we celebrate the Ultimate Gift –
Jesus Christ. Through Him, God gave the world forgiveness and reconciliation.
In Luke 7:36-50 we see two different responses to that gift - the
critical indifference of “Hard-to-Get-For” Simon, and the lavish gratitude of a
woman aware of her spiritual poverty. Jesus tells Simon those who are forgiven
little, love little and those who are forgiven much, love much. But a
notable point about their conversation is that while Jesus agrees with Simon
that the woman has many sins, he never says Simon has few.
Could it be the separation between Simon and the woman, was
not the number of sins, but the awareness of them? That Simon loved little, not
because he had little to be forgiven for, but because he was oblivious to how
much he needed forgiveness and reconciliation with God?
In what ways are we like Simon? Have we allowed God to open
our hearts and minds to be aware of our deep need for a Savior? Are we one who
loves much? Are we grateful for the gift?
As we go through the Advent season and reflect on and
celebrate God’s Gift to us through Jesus, may we grow daily more aware of our
deep need for Jesus, so we too can be one who loves much.
India Cable
Madison FBC
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