If we want our worship to be meaningful… If we want to increase in our love for God… then we must understand the depth to which God has forgiven us.  If we don’t think we’re really all that bad… the degree of our thankfulness and love for God will be small.  However, as we realize what we deserve for our sin AND that Jesus was punished in our place, the response will be much more +Consider what is written in Luke 7:41 and following (Jesus is speaking)…

“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  42  When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

I’m convinced that the more aware we are of our own sin for which Jesus was punished… the more we will be genuinely thankful to God for our forgiveness.  Along with that, our love for God will also increase.  And the result of those two things will be an increase of adoration, worship, and praise of God!

Think. Do you realize how much you’ve been forgiven?  Have you been forgiven?  Know that God hates sinHATES IT. Because of sin… God’s wrath, anger, and indignation is building to an infinite measure.  Then one day all His fury against sin and His anger toward those who rejected salvation in Jesus alone will be poured out for eternity.  They will be punished forever.  Their torments will intensify without relief.  They will burn… scream in pain… with their worst nightmares all coming true.  They will remember ever opportunity they had to believe in Jesus that they rejected and mourn over their foolishness.  And it will get worse and worse as each second of eternity passes by.  And they will never get any relief… forever and ever and ever and ever.

God doesn’t punish sin… He punishes the sinner who committed the sin.  Think on that.   If God only hates the sin and not the sinner… then why doesn’t He just punish the sin in hell and not the sinner himself?  Hmm… I’m working on that one…

Are you saved?  Do you know Jesus?  If you do… know this… Jesus went through what is described above IN YOUR PLACE!  So that you won’t be subjected to God’s eternal wrath!  So you are free… forgiven… redeemed… justified.  (Pause)  Next time you go to church… think about how great your sin is and that you have been forgiven and WORSHIP THE GOD who provided you eternal life.