Do I Love Much?

In the May issue of CCM magazine there was a column by Louie Gigio (Passion Worship Conferences) called Simply Worship. He talks a little about worship styles and the battle in many churches related to that.

The point of the article is to direct us to what Biblical worship is all about and that it’s not just music.

He talks about the story in Luke 7 where Jesus was eating at the house of one of the Pharisees. A woman of the city, who was a sinner, showed up. How would you like to be known that way? “Oh yeah, he’s that sinner.” Of course, in reality, that is every one of us.

So she comes in, washes His feet with her tears, dries them with her hair and anoints his feet with an ointment. The Pharisee criticizes Jesus in his mind – how could he allow himself to be touched by such a woman.

Jesus tells the man a parable about differing debts being forgiven and sums it up in this way: “For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” Luke 7:47

Here is a paragraph from the article that really grabbed me:

Worship begins the instant we glimpse mercy, that moment we find ourselves in the most helpless of states, doomed by our own choices and standing in the shadow of certain and just judgment. In an instant, God could rightfully condemn us, yet surprisingly, kindness smiles and love overwhelms, opening a way for Mercy to appear and save the day. Our guilty eyes open to behold the Star Breather becoming the Sin Bearer, the Universe Maker becoming Mankind's Savior.

Wow, there it is. This is the heart of worship. My sins are many, I deserve judgment and death but instead I receive mercy and forgiveness.

Here is how the article ended: To see mercy is to offer everything. To offer everything is to truly worship.

That’s what I want.

Philip