CONFESSIONS & REFLEXIONS - What do I assume?

Believing that I am one decision away from changing my life (Groeschel), here I am. I like to write. I will say this internally everyday to convince myself. It is true, I do like to write but, it’s a challenge and recently I have been avoiding challenges like “the plague”. I have also been writing in Portuguese which is even more challenging. Thankfully, people have been gracious thus far. Happily, today’s decision to start is made and here I am.

I am starting a diary or journal of sorts (confessions and reflexions) to share a little bit of what I have been meditating, considering and contemplating. I will publish here a few thoughts, not all, as not everything is suitable for social networks or sometimes they are just for my “secret place” and sometimes it’s just not worth saying.

In doing this, I have a few goals in mind: 1) Obedience to God (good right?) 2) Recreate the habit of transparency - yes, I said habit. 3) To begin to value what I think… I hope you catch my drift.

CONFESSIONS AND REFLEXIONS - What do I assume?

Luke 7: “But those who assume they have very little to be forgiven will love me very little.” 

Do you remember the story about Mary who was a prostitute? You can read it here. It is one of the most well-known stories of the Bible. It is famous in preachings and teachings on worship and for good reason.

I confess for quite some time now, after hearing this story numerous times, I would mentally “check out” because after all, “I know the point” … However, after seeing a video where Brian Johnson (Worship Pastor at Bethel Church) spoke of his new book “When God Becomes Real”, using this story and the verse above, I knew I had to revisit the well-known passage of Scripture.

Reflecting on this verse, I confess, I have loved little, I have disconnected, I have been alone in my heart and here is the reason. Those who assume that they don’t have much to be pardoned and forgiven for, don’t love Jesus very much - don’t love much at all.

We all know that life happens. Situations provoke a myriad of reactions like self-defense, self-preservation, exhaustion, depression, anxiety, self-pity, frustration, disappointment many times leading to self-righteousness. All are “red flags” we find along the pathway to love shutting off. They are reasons but not excuses. Repentance and asking for forgiveness from the One that is able to forgive is necessary to hear the words of “return" to the path of Love that he treads:

Luke 7: “Your faith in me has given you life. Now you may leave and walk in the ways of peace.” 

The truth is there is no such thing as a little sin or a lot of sin, small sins, and big sins. There is only sin and it is anything that makes me miss the mark. The mark is Jesus, His presence, His love.

From the moment that I believe with my own actions, hands or self-righteousness I can bring myself to demonstrate love, I have missed the mark - I have lost the pathway. The reality is that we have much to be forgiven. I have MUCH to be forgiven and when I confess that, I begin to love Him again. I want to love Him much. I want to love like Him.