Who is too bad for God?

Luke 7:40-43: “And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ So he said, ‘Teacher, say it.’ 41 ‘There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?’ 43 Simon answered and said, ‘I suppose the one whom he forgave more.’ And He said to him, ‘You have rightly judged.’"

The fact remains that God loves sinners. He loves the undesirables and the wicked. He loves those who sin a little, and He loves those who sin a lot. There is no one who is too wicked or to dirty for Jesus. He wants and desires a relationship with all people. He does not put a price tag on your head as we do. “Oh this guy only sins a little so he is worth more to God”, or “This guy’s sins are so big that God would never want him”. It is not as we see things. God’s offer of love and a relationship with Him is an open invitation for everyone no matter who you are, or what you have done. You have the option to start a relationship with God. Faith in Jesus, and Jesus alone, is the deciding factor in your relationship with God.

Jesus tells the story of two people whose debts their creditor forgave. Jesus asked which one would love the creditor more. The Pharisee answered the one who had more debt to be forgiven. This Pharisee was repulsed because this woman of ill repute was seeking forgiveness. She indeed had more sin in her life and needed forgiveness; however, this Pharisee also needed forgiveness. The sinful woman got it right. She begged and worshiped Jesus and received His grace. The religious Pharisee failed in seeing that all people need God’s forgiveness and grace.

You cannot be too bad to receive God’s forgiveness. Sometimes we carry around the guilt of the stupid mistakes we make. We think that we are unlovable and too dirty to receive God’s grace. God does not want you to continue in sin anymore. Rather, He wants you to know that forgiveness is available no matter what you have done in the past. He desires a relationship with you. What are you going to tell Him when He is begging you drop the heavy yoke of guilt and simply trust in Him?

“Only trust Him, only trust Him, Only trust Him now!” He will save you, He will save you, He will save you now!” (Hymn)

Tomorrows Readings:
Old Testament: Judges 6-7 New Testament Luke 8:1-21