A friend once told me, "In my lifetime I've seen a lot of things change, and I've been against them all!" Perhaps he overstated the point, but many of us would agree that we don't like change - especially if it involves altering our habits and attitudes. That's one reason Jesus was so unpopular among the Pharisees. He challenged their long-established system of good works and self-righteous living.
Consider the incident when the town "sinner" entered the home of the town "saint" in Luke 7. Simon the Pharisee wasn't impressed with the woman's lavish display of affection for Jesus. Reading Simon's self-righteous thoughts, Jesus immediately challenged his flawed perception of his own goodness by telling the story of two debtors - one who owed much to his master and one who owed less. "Which of them will love him more?" Jesus asked (v. 42). Obviously, the one who had been forgiven more. Speaking to Simon's I-feel-pretty-good-about-myself attitude, Jesus said, "to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little" (v. 47).
The challenge is clear. Lulled into thinking how good we are, our love for Jesus wanes because we have forgotten that we too are among the ones "forgiven much". And when that happens, ready or not, it's time for a change! When God starts changing things, He usually begins with changing us.
AMEN
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