Extravagant Love Poured Out
Have you ever been the recipient of extravagant selfless love? Last week I was snuggling our three year old grandson, who was cold after a bath and putting on his pjs. I wrapped a blanket around him, held him in my lap and held a drink to his lips so he could stay wrapped up. He looked at me and said, "You are my sweetheart." WOW. I felt loved.
Jesus wraps his loving arms around us! He is our sweet heart!
Read of Extravagant Love in: Luke 7:36-50
A Pharisee invited Jesus to have dinner with him. So Jesus went to the Pharisee’s home and got ready to eat. When a sinful woman in that town found out that Jesus was there, she bought an expensive bottle of perfume. Then she came and stood behind Jesus. She cried and started washing his feet with her tears and drying them with her hair. The woman kissed his feet and poured the perfume on them.
The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this and said to himself, “If this man really were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him! He would know that she is a sinner.” Jesus said to the Pharisee, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Teacher, what is it?” Simon replied. Jesus told him, “Two people were in debt to a moneylender. One of them owed him five hundred silver coins, and the other owed him fifty. Since neither of them could pay him back, the moneylender said that they didn’t have to pay him anything. Which one of them will like him more?” Simon answered, “I suppose it would be the one who had owed more and didn’t have to pay it back.” “You are right,” Jesus said.
He turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Have you noticed this woman? When I came into your home, you didn’t give me any water so I could wash my feet. But she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. You didn’t even pour olive oil on my head but she has poured expensive perfume on my feet. So I tell you that all her sins are forgiven, and that is why she has shown great love. But anyone who has been forgiven for only a little will show only a little love.” Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”
Some other guests started saying to one another, “Who is this who dares to forgive sins?”But Jesus told the woman, “Because of your faith, you are now saved. May God give you peace!”
Isn't that a rich, rich, story? Jesus' love for us is so extravagant and we are called to be imitators of that love. If we have experienced that LOVE first hand we not only long to bow at his feet and pour our love out over Him and weep for the joy of what he's done, we want to show that gracious love to others. Even strangers.
Are we noticed as people who love extravagantly? A horrific offense has been leveled upon the Ukrainian people. Horrific offenses happen against people everyday in the form of abuse, captivity, hunger, poverty, relational rejection, sex trafficking, theft to name a few.
What kind of extravagant love is God calling us to today?
There are so many fabulous ministries to support in our country, as well as individual actions the Holy Spirit may lead us to take. Does your church give extravagantly to your community, your state, and world missions? When we give let's check to be sure they are giving away the free gift of Jesus Christ to meet spiritual needs as well as taking care of physical needs.
Billy Graham Ministries
Consider Supporting Samaritans Purse efforts in Ukraine
The Song Extravagant Love by Dustin Smith
