Lately I’ve been thinking about how our forgiven sins should move our hearts towards higher levels of worship. Simply said; Our gratitude should rise in proportion to the value of gift. Luke 7: 36-50
36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among [8] themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Notice these things about the Woman and Pharisee. The woman was a “sinner” and she knew it. She was moved with very deep emotion and worshiped Jesus with her tears and by washing his feet with her hair and tears and with very expensive ointment. She was standing behind him at his feet in a position of deep humility. Contrast this to the Pharisee as Jesus said “did not anoint my head with oil” nor “give me no kiss”. The Pharisee paid no respect nor did he worship Christ because he did not see his own sinfulness. He did not worship because he saw no need for forgiveness.

We should all see ourselves as the one who’s sins “are many”. This in turn, should result in a deep humility, deep gratitude and worship. When you ponder your Saviour and the great debt He paid for you, do you weep with gratitude? Do you stand in awe of what has happened? Do you tremble at the thought of what you should have justly received as proper punishment for your sins? Are you amazed at your salvation? The radical forgiveness we as Christians have received should result in a radical worship of our Lord. Does this statement cause your heart to sing? “Your sins are forgiven.”