How deep the Fathers love for us

“Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. ³⁷And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, ³⁸and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. ³⁹Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.” ⁴⁰And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” So he said, “Teacher, say it.” ⁴¹“There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. ⁴²And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” ⁴³Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.”” Luke 7:36-43 NKJV

Father God,

We have all been in situations where we have assumed something and got it badly wrong and been embarrassed or offended someone. The Pharisee, Simon, did not get it wrong but he was using his own set of values. Both he and Jesus saw the same woman. But one saw repentance and worship and a good heart and had compassion. The other judged her as not worthy to be there and certainly not good enough to touch Jesus.

I love that Jesus doesn’t lecture or shout or try to make Peter feel small – he uses a simple illustration to lead him into understanding. You are so gracious to us when we get it wrong. And Peter was able to experience this woman receiving her personal forgiveness and think about his own. On a good day sometimes I can think I am not so bad . . . then You, Father remind me of all I have been forgiven. I am just a sinner saved by grace. I cannot boast in anything except Your gift of love and forgiveness at the cross and in the resurrection. Keep me from judging others.

In Jesus name I pray, Amen

Worship Friday 23rd October 2026

How deep the Father’s love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon the cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
No, but I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Lyrics: Stuart Townend

“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, ¹⁶that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, ¹⁷that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— ¹⁹to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. ²⁰Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, ²¹to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:14-20 NKJV

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who Spirit strengthens us,

Paul is writing from Rome and awaiting judgement. But he knows his eternal judgement is safely in Your hands, God. And he is able to leave us this prayer. It is good to read it verse by verse. And dwell on it. Verse numbers annoy me sometimes because they we added much later in the Bibles history. Over a thousand years after it was written, along with chapters, to help navigate. What a prayer to just digest in its fulness.

that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory,
to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;
that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge;
that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

I can think of no better prayer for a new believer, in a challenging time, a mature or a nominal Christian. It is also a prayer for the church, all of us as one body (Ephesians 4:4) We can pray it for our fellowship! It is powerful if the you is changed to me. Grant me . . .I can pray it for myself in whatsoever state I am in! Today and every day to know there is not a limit, not a measure used with You. We all have all of You, always.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Sunday 14th December 2025
Lest we get too big for our spiritual boots . . .

How deep the Father’s love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Lyrics: Stuart Townend