Those who love Christ most are those who know how much they’ve been forgiven and how greatly Jesus has lavished His grace upon them.
Mary Magdalene is the first person John names at the empty tomb. Scripture tells us she had been delivered from “seven demons” (Mark 16:9; Luke 8:2)—a woman rescued from deep bondage, now overflowing with deep gratitude.
No wonder she loved Christ so intensely. She stayed at His cross when others fled, and she was first at His grave while it was still dark. Having received much, she loved much—and her devotion overflowed into action.
Why, then, do so many believers—whose faith we would never question—give, serve, and speak so little for Christ? The answer is often a shallow sense of our own need and indebtedness. Where sin is hardly felt, little is done. But the one who knows the depth of their guilt and the greatness of Christ’s mercy will gladly spend and be spent for Him.
This is why John Calvin writes:
“Men will never worship God with a sincere heart, or be roused to fear and obey Him with sufficient zeal, until they properly understand how much they are indebted to His mercy.”
Prayer:
Lord, teach me—and all Your people—how deeply indebted we are to You for so great a salvation. Amen.
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