Have you ever stopped to think about those three words? Seriously. "Oh, have that piece of cake. You deserve it." "I'm sure you'll get that raise. You deserve it." "Go ahead and take a break. You deserve it."
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What a crock. Really. The Bible says that we're sinners. We've all broken the law of God, and what we deserve isn't a doughnut, a nap, or a promotion. What we deserve is death.
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (Romans 8:5-6, NKJV)Jesus didn't deserve death. He was the only one who has ever lived without breaking the law of God. He is the only one who deserves that doughnut. He didn't deserve the death He died, but He gave Himself willingly for it, anyway, because He loved us. He loved us, the undeserving wretches that we are, so much that He stretched Himself out as a bridge for us to be reconciled to God. We didn't deserve that. Far from it. We deserved the death He died.
6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (Romans 5: 6-10, NKJV)The sermon series that we've been going through in church on Ruth defines grace as the idea that anything that can be restored or redeemed should be. It's not about whether it deserves to be restored or redeemed. Grace is about reconciliation, in opposition to what is deserved. Jesus was the only one who could redeem us, restore us to a right relationship with God, and take us off the enemy list. He's the only one who could pay that price, and He did it of His own volition. Willingly.
We get to be God's children, as a result of His willing sacrifice. We get to be heirs, joint heirs with Jesus Himself. We get to reap the rewards of Jesus' faithfulness. What we don't get is to deserve any of it.18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. 20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:18-21, NKJV)
To believe that you are somehow entitled to something is pride. God opposes the proud. Dangerous place to be, in opposition to the Almighty.16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. (Romans 8:16-17, NKJV)
3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. (James 4:3-10, 16, NKJV)
Heavenly Father, protect me from my pride and arrogance, my sense of entitlement, my overdeveloped list of rights, and the destruction that comes with them. Help me to live in Your Son's humility, who didn't think of equality with You as something to be grasped or held onto, but made himself humble, taking on the nature of a servant.
Help me to avoid being self-promoting, taking things into my own hands, thinking of myself as better than I ought, and demanding better treatment. Remind me, in those shameful moments of pride, that my eternal death is all I deserve and that nothing short of Your grace and mercy covers my sin, including the sin of my pride. By your mercy, teach me humility, not false humility that still seeks its own, but understanding of my depravity and the wealth of grace that has been so lavishly poured out upon this beggar.
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:5-8, NKJV)
Much love.
LL~
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4, NKJV)
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