“I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” Luke 7:47-48 NLT
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding,” Ephesians 1:7-8 NIV
God of lavish love,
The religious Pharisee who had invited Jesus to be his guest, when this woman came in uninvited, was offended. Not that she had come but that she dared to touch Jesus feet. He had already judged her. And judging Jesus for allowing her to touch His feet! How quick we are to jump to the wrong conclusion sometimes, to see situations from a skewed angle. You remind us that You do not jump to conclusions. You do not judge us by what we look like, what we have done or not done or who we are. You want us to come to You, meet us in the mess we are in and give Your love and forgiveness.
You know us because you created our inmost being and knit us together in our mother’s womb.
We are fearfully and wonderfully made by You (Psalm 139:13,14). Yet You love us regardless of our faults and failings (Ephesians 2:4,5). As the verse says in Ephesians, in accordance with Your grace and lavishly. As we consider the depth of Your love for us, help us to see how much You love even those who do not love You. How You long for them to seek You and to say those words to them, ‘Your sins are forgiven’. Help us not to judge but prompt us, when we have opportunity, to say a word about You. To whoever it may be.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Suggestions for prayer . . .
God of lavish love,
For our family and friends and neighbours. Open their lives to You. Help, heal, and lift their spirits.
For our Ministers, lay leaders, church members. Opportunity to share the gospel.
For the royal family. Protect their families.
For our nation and Government at this time of words and more words. Highlight truth on all sides.
Ukraine, show Your power for peace and disassemble this war. Deal with Putin.
For Gaza, and the Middle East. Turn our hopes to You for a way to peace.
For families in half term to be able to do things together and teachers to be rested and refreshed.
For the overseas missions we support to prosper and grow. Give vision to the leaders
For our mental heath service. Those who work with children and adults whose needs are complex.
For us to know the things we can change and the things that we cannot. Thank You for being our ever present help.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Tuesday 28th May 2024
This song may not be that well known outside the Salvation Army but is a beautiful hymn.
Many are the things I cannot understand,
All above me mystery I see;
But the gift most wonderful from God’s own hand
Surely is his gift of grace to me!
Higher than the stars that reach eternity,
Broader than the boundaries of endless space,
Is the boundless love of God that pardoned me;
O the wonder of his grace!
When I came to Jesus with my sin and shame
And to him confessed my deepest need,
When by faith I trusted fully in his name,
God’s rich grace was granted me indeed.
Passing understanding is his boundless love,
More than I can ever comprehend,
Jesus, in his mercy, left his throne above,
All to be my Saviour and my friend.
Lyrics: Howard Davies
The author said in 1986: “The inspiration for the song came through seeing the beauty of the Australian night sky with the stars so clear – the thought from Psalm 8 coming to mind: ‘When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him, the son of man that You care for him?’”