Grateful for forgiveness

Have you ever noticed how some people are so much more excited about the prospect of forgiveness than others? There's always somebody in church who shouts a little bit louder or dances a little bit more. I'm not talking about those who scream the loudest so they can gain some attention; I'm talking about those whose gratitude shows on their faces. Those who know exactly what their lives would gave been like if they hadn't been delivered by their saviour. We could learn a thing or two from them.

As humans, we tend to be more grateful and show more gratitude when or situations are more dire and desperate. For those of us whose lives haven't been too horrible before Christ, our gratitude runs a little bit shallower. Think about it. You knew where your next meal was coming from, you knew where your children were at night and life was generally OK save for the fact that we did not have eternal life. We're the ones who tend to place less significance on the gift of salvation. The mother who had a had time feeding her children or keeping a roof over their heads; she's the one you outta talk to about gratitude.

Even Jesus pointed it out. In Luke 7:47 NLT “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.” Mary Magdalene poured an entire bottle of expensive perfume on Jesus' feet and those around him just could not understand why. While their gratitude ran shallow, hers ran deep. There was more for her to be grateful for.

But it is possible to be more grateful for the gift of salvation. After all, no matter how uncomplicated our lives were before Christ, we would still end up in hell without salvation. Let's learn a thing or two from the Mary Magdalenes in or congregations today and let our gratitude run a little bit deeper. Now, when you see someone worshipping in earnest, understand that they have simply been through too much not to worship their saviour. You don't know or understand the cost of their praise. Until you know their story, or all the things that they've been through, don't hate on their worship. Rather, step your gratitude up just a little bit. It will do wonders for your faith.

Remember that those who've been forgiven little show little love, those who've been forgiven much, show much love.

Joana James - Author of From Redemption to Maturity, Trusting God with your Future,   Nightmare at Emerald High & Alana and Alyssa's Secret & Finding Romeo