(Jesus speaking) “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender.  One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both.  Now which one will love him more?”  Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”  “You have judged correctly,” Jesus replied.  – Luke 7:41-43.

At church Sunday, the pastor said some really nice things about me before I spoke.  You see, I’ve been filling in for my friend, Brian Hopkins, at Mt. Freedom Baptist Church in Mountain Rest.  This Sunday coming up will be my last Sunday to preach their 10:30 service.  I’ve enjoyed preaching there as much as I’ve enjoyed preaching anywhere in my life.  The presence of God has been so wonderful that it has made it difficult to say “amen” and end of each service.

One thing Brian said about me was, “Adam loves Jesus.”  Usually, when someone says something like this, I think “I sure don’t love Him like I should.”  But this time, I thought, “He is right!  I love Him right now at this moment more than I’ve ever loved Him in my life.”  I wondered why this was so.  Immediately, these verses in Luke 7 popped in my head.

I don’t know if there has been a year when I’ve done more for the Lord than 2023.  He has given me some pretty cool assignments.  Those assignments have been characterized by this . . . God has worked mightily despite me.  You see, I know my heart.  I know my study habits.  I know that more often than not, I haven’t prayed like I should, haven’t prepared my heart like I should, and that sometimes I speak to a crowd, and I’m more than likely the emptiest person in the room.  Yet so often He has filled me while I was speaking.  His presence has manifested so wonderfully and all I can do is give Him all the praise, all the honor, and all the glory.  I love Him so much, but not because I’m all that.  I love Him because I’m the 500 denarii guy.  A denarius was a day’s wages back in the day.  $15 an hour for 8 hours is $120.  $120 x 500 days = $60,000.  I can’t just write a check for $60k.  I can’t make right all the bad things I’ve done in my life, whether it be to God or to others . . . and I’ve done some vile and sinful things.  To this day, I know my thoughts.  I’d sure hate for everything that passed through my head to be made public . . . I’d be humiliated.  Yet, God still chooses to forgive and work in my life?

Yes!  I love Him!

Lord, thank You for loving me.  Thank You for changing me.  Thank You for still working on me.  I would have thought that my love for you would be greater if I felt like I was performing well for You.  The truth is, when I think I’m doing well, I don’t bring things to You like I should.  I don’t lay things at Your feet like I should.  I have more the attitude of “I got this.” Lord, may I never think that way again.  You are the author of salvation.  No other should get any glory for the great work that only You can do.  There is and never will be another like You, Lord.  Continue to use me.  Continue to show me just how great Thy mercy is towards me . . . for then I will love You even more.  Amen.