Day 12 – Powerful Gratitude

36 One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him. So he went to the Pharisee’s house. He took his place at the table. 37 There was a woman in that town who had lived a sinful life. She learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house. So she came there with a special jar of perfume. 38 She stood behind Jesus and cried at his feet. And she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair. She kissed them and poured perfume on them.
39 The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this. He said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him. He would know what kind of woman she is. She is a sinner!”
40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
41 “Two people owed money to a certain lender. One owed him 500 silver coins. The other owed him 50 silver coins. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back. So he let them go without paying. Which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who owed the most money.”
“You are right,” Jesus said.
44 Then he turned toward the woman. He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water to wash my feet. But she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss. But this woman has not stopped kissing my feet since I came in. 46 You did not put any olive oil on my head. But she has poured this perfume on my feet. 47 So I tell you this. Her many sins have been forgiven. She has shown that she understands this by her great acts of love. But whoever has been forgiven only a little loves only a little.”
48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Luke 7:36-48 (NIRV)

Gratitude is a powerful force and motivator. We can easily lose sight of our reasons to be grateful when we focus on the stress of our lives, the struggle to achieve, and longing for what we want and do not yet have.

This scripture teaches us that there is a direct correlation between how grateful we are and how much we love. This woman was so grateful for being forgiven for her sins, so she showed “great acts of love.” Was she any more sinful than others? Or was she just more aware of her sin? The more aware we are that we need forgiveness the more grateful we can be. And the more grateful we are the more loving we will be. True gratitude is powerful and leads to great love for others seen in the good we do for them.

What are sins in your life you are grateful God has forgiven you for?

What has God has done in your life that others need?

Who has God put in your life to do good for?

This is a post in a series called “15 Days to Become a Force For Good,” which is a follow up to our 2017 Expo.