The Depth of Our Need | Thursday
Devotional
Jesus told a simple story that cut straight to the heart of the matter: two people owed money to a lender—one owed a massive debt, the other a smaller amount. When both debts were forgiven, which debtor would be more grateful? The answer was obvious, but the application was profound.
The woman washing Jesus’ feet understood something that Simon missed entirely. She knew the depth of her sin and therefore grasped the magnitude of God’s forgiveness. Simon, confident in his religious performance, couldn’t see his own need for grace. He was like the debtor with the smaller debt—not because he had sinned less, but because he was less aware of his sin.
This is one of the most challenging truths of the Christian faith: we are all equally in need of grace. The “respectable” person and the “obvious” sinner both stand before God as debtors who cannot pay what they owe. The difference isn’t in the amount of sin, but in the awareness of our desperate need for a Savior.
The closer we draw to Jesus, the more clearly we see our own hearts. It’s not that we become worse people as we grow in faith—it’s that we become more honest about who we’ve always been. This isn’t meant to discourage us but to deepen our appreciation for grace. When we truly understand that we are sinners saved by grace, our love for Jesus grows exponentially.
The woman’s extravagant worship flowed from her accurate understanding of what she’d been forgiven. The same can be true for us when we stop minimizing our need and start marveling at His grace.
Bible Verse
“‘Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has
been forgiven little loves little.’ ” – Luke 7:47
Reflection Question
How has your awareness of your own sin and need for grace grown over time, and how has this deeper understanding affected your love and gratitude toward Jesus?
Quote
He is not talking about the amount of sin, he is talking about the debtors awareness of the sin. You see, this is what Jesus is building here. He is saying, listen as the more you are aware of your sin, the more you will love your Savior.
Prayer
Father, open my eyes to see my heart as You see it. Help me to be honest about my sin without being crushed by shame, knowing that Your grace is greater than my failures. As I grow in understanding of what I’ve been forgiven, let my love for You grow deeper and my worship become more authentic. Amen.