Dear Friends,

When thinking what I should write to you about for the month of April, and turning over the pages of my Bible, I came to Luke chapter 7 and verses 36 to 50. As I read this passage through, my heart was warmed again with love for Jesus, As there can be nothing greater for us to have created in our hearts than love for Jesus, I would direct your attention to this passage with the hope and prayer that your hearts may be warmed with love for Jesus also.

The story is of a woman who had led a sinful life, coming to Jesus while he was reclining at table at the house of a prominent Pharisee. She seeks to show her love to Jesus and honour him, by washing his feet, which was a common courtesy of the day which the Pharisee had not offered Jesus. This woman washed Jesus feet with her tears, dried his feet with her hair, and then anointed his body with expensive ointment. This brought criticism from the Pharisee who thought it wrong for Jesus to allow a sinful woman to come near him like this. Then Jesus told a parable to the Pharisee of a money lender who had two debtors. One debtor owed a small amount. The other a very large amount. Neither could pay what they owed, so the money lender cancelled their debts. Jesus asked the Pharisee which of the two debtors would love the money lender most. The Pharisee grudgingly but quite rightly said the one who had been forgiven most. Jesus then used this illustrative story to explain the love the sinful woman had for him.

Love for Jesus is the motivation for all our Christian living. It is the only motivation that can really move us to serve and follow Jesus. It is also the only motivation which is real, safe and right. Without this love we shall become censorious and, if we serve, serve more for ourselves than Jesus.

This woman who had lived a sinful life really loved Jesus. Her heart was so full of love that she could not do too much for her Lord. Because of her love she was ready to lavish gifts on him, seen in this expensive ointment. Because of her love she was ready to face all the harsh criticism and rejection of others - in this case of the Pharisee. Because of her love she wanted to do things for Jesus and was ready to humble herself before him, and be a servant to him, washing his feet and drying them with her hair.

The Pharisee, on the other hand, was so indifferent to Jesus that he even failed to bestow on him the common courtesies of the day - washing of his feet, greeting with a kiss, etc.

It is when there is great love for Jesus amongst the people of God that the church is blessed. This is because real and deep love for Jesus calls out the very best desire within us to please him and serve him. We do not count the cost, but are ready to pour out our lives and wealth if only we can show our love and honour for him. Great love for Jesus also makes us want to glorify him to others, that they too may see how wonderful he is.

Where did the great love of this woman originate from? The answer is plain. It originated in the fact that, whereas everyone else despised and rejected her, condemning her for her way of life just as this Pharisee was doing, Jesus had loved her, befriended her and accepted her, and above all had forgiven all her sins, and did not remember them in any way.

It is when we feel and experience the abundant forgiving love of Jesus for us that our hearts respond in love for him. It is as we go on realising Jesus’ great love for us that our love for him increases, and we want to show our love for him in the way we live and the service we give to him.

The woman knew how much she needed to be forgiven. Her sins were obvious and there were no shortage of people to tell her how bad she was. This woman had found in Jesus someone at last who was willing to accept her. The Pharisee instead felt that, if he had done anything wrong, his sins were small and he had very little need to be forgiven. Because of this Jesus meant very little to him.

What the Pharisee did not realise was that, though his sins were more respectable in society, they were just as numerous as those of the woman, and in God's eyes as much in need of forgiveness.

A congregation where their is much love for Jesus is the congregation which, though mostly respectable, have felt how painful their sins are to God, and when seeking mercy have realised the mighty love of the Saviour dying on the cross personally for them to pay the debt for their sin, and loving them and accepting them completely.

A congregation which is attractive and grows is one where the members show the same love and acceptance they have received from Jesus to others, so that others see in them this wonderful love of Jesus and are attracted and want to hear more and to know Jesus also.

The world is very self righteous and censorious. The world expects the church to be even more censorious and condemning, and the trouble is that so often they are not disappointed. The result is that they never come near a church. It is a sad thing that so often the church of God radiates censor more than love. This is sad because it dishonours Jesus, but it is also sad because it keeps people from Christ's church and Christ's love.

We need to labour to realise the truth more and more in our experience which is expressed in this story of the sinful woman, and in the words of Paul in Romans 5:8 - "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us". A church with breathes the accepting and forgiving love of Jesus will never be empty and will always be attracting people in.

Your servant for Christ's sake,