“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
1 Peter 2:9 NRSV
Too many people are wrapped up in their sins. Their identity has become so tied to their sins that they don’t know how to be their redeemed selves, they don’t know what it means to be redeemed, loved, different.
At times there is an emptiness that people feel when they experience forgiveness because they have held the guilt, the shame, the anger, the hurt for so long that it is part of who they are, in the woman from Luke 7:36-50 her sin was widely known.
Yet Jesus forgave her.
This teacher who people would crowd around to hear Him speak, this person of renown that the upper echelon of society invited over for dinner, and He forgave her sins.
She was not just a sinful woman to Jesus. In fact after she came to Him she was a forgiven person filled with the overflowing love of God, with thankfulness, and new life. She was forever changed because of Jesus, not just in her social interactions but deep inside.
The forgiveness of her sins gave her room in her life to love and be loved in a whole new way.
As we enter into Lent, how are you going to make room for Jesus? Is it by giving up something meaningless or will it be by making room in your life for something meaningful. Will you allow Jesus to forgive you? Will you allow Jesus to help you forgive someone else? Will you let go of the guilt, shame, hurt, and live as a child of God?