"Undeserving"
Lamentations 4:1-5:22
Hebrews 2:1-18
Psalm 103:1-22
Proverbs 26:23
We all have expectations. When we walk into a store, we expect that employees will treat customers with respect. If we buy something, it will be in good working order. We should be satisfied. We paid for it, we deserve it.
What a blessing it is to serve God. "I bless the holy name of God with all my heart. Yes, I will bless the Lord and not forget the glorious things he does for me. He forgives all my sin. He heals me. He ransoms me from hell. He surrounds me with lovingkindness and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things! My youth is renewed like the eagle's! He gives justice to all who are treated unfairly." Ps 103:1-7
How do you feel reading that scripture? It's too easy to read all of that and say, "Boy, I sure am glad for all that!" and go on with the day. We can become callous to the blessing of salvation.
"He is merciful and tender toward those who don't deserve it; he is slow to get angry and full of kindness and love. He never bears a grudge, nor remains angry forever. He has not punished us as we deserve for all our sin, for his mercy toward those who fear and honor him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth." Ps 103:8-11
"those who don't deserve it..." Who is that? that's me. I walk in and out of the church doors at least a couple dozen times each week. I must be cautious lest I take for granted the grace God has given me. I should never walk into his presence as if I deserve to be there. I should not walk through life as if I deserve to be a child of God. I don't. All i deserve is the punishment for my sin. Praise the Lord, "he has not punished us as we deserve..."
I'm thankful that through the power of his blood we can boldly come before him. "He has removed our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west." Ps 103:12 He has made us pure. Even though we don't deserve it. "For he knows we are but dust, and that our days are few and brief, like grass, like flowers, blown by the wind and gone forever."
How does an individual live if they feel like they "deserve" God's favor? They make for tough customers. We had friends years ago who had a goal to get a free meal at a restaurant every time. They would try to find something to make a stink about. It was actually quite embarrassing. When asked about it, the comment was, "hey, I paid for this meal, and it's their job to keep us happy." Well, let's just say the waiters had their work cut out for them.
Do you know that it's not God's "job" to keep us happy? He has a purpose for all creation, and we are so blessed to be even thought of as part of the family. How awful to walk around in life as if "I paid for this Christianity, so I deserve better..."
Lord, I'm so thankful that you chose me to be one of your very own. I'm full of flaws and I've failed you many times, and yet your love for me just makes it all seem to disappear. Forgive me for times that I walk around as a spoiled child acting arrogant like I deserve your favor. I don't. Help me to walk daily in the humility of one who's been forgiven so much.
"Let everything everywhere bless the Lord. And how I bless him too!" Ps. 103:22
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Showing posts with label Gratitude. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gratitude. Show all posts
Monday, October 31, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
7.17.11 "Grateful for the Gift"
"Grateful for the Gift"
I Chronicles 24:1-26:11
Romans 4:1-13
Psalm 13:1-6
Proverbs 19:15-16
Anyone with kids knows that there's a fine line when it comes to gifts. You love them so much you want to give them gifts all the time, but you know how it is. It doesn't take but a couple gifts and kids start to think they deserve gifts on a regular basis.
We're never that way are we? Taking a gift for granted?
In Romans 4 Paul is talking about Abraham and this question of faith and good deeds. vs 1-2: "Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What were his experiences concerning this question of being saved by faith? Was it because of his good deeds that God accepted him? If so, then he would have something to boast about."
We know we are saved by faith, not of works, but it's easier than we realize to subconsciously slip into a "deserving the gift" mentality. "I deserve to be saved."
Have you ever received a gift that really humbled you? I remember a nationally known speaker telling the story of a gift he received. He's fairly well off, nice car, nice home, etc. After a service a lady, who he knew was dirt poor came and gave him a check for $5.00 to support his ministry. He shared how that gift really knocked him down to size. He realized how he did not deserve that $5.00 not to mention all the other blessings in his life.
Receiving a gift that you know you don't deserve does an incredible thing to your heart, if you acknowledge the fact of how undeserving you are.
Think of your salvation. Something you deserve? Sunday School answer is "No." But does your heart bear that sentiment? Take a moment to think of this gift of salvation. Think of the cost. Think of the giver. Think about yourself as the recipient.
In Romans 4:4-5 it says, "...being saved is a gift; if a person could earn it by being good, then it wouldn't be free-- but it is! It is given to those who do NOT work for it."
Psalm 13 starts out "How long will you forget me, Lord? Forever?" it continues to lament about the anguish of the heart. but in verse 5&6 "But I will always trust in you and in your mercy and shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord because he has blessed me so richly."
No matter where you feel you are at, in a season of blessing or trial, you are not deserving of this gift of salvation. Yet, it has been given you. Rejoice in it this day!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
I Chronicles 24:1-26:11
Romans 4:1-13
Psalm 13:1-6
Proverbs 19:15-16
Anyone with kids knows that there's a fine line when it comes to gifts. You love them so much you want to give them gifts all the time, but you know how it is. It doesn't take but a couple gifts and kids start to think they deserve gifts on a regular basis.
We're never that way are we? Taking a gift for granted?
In Romans 4 Paul is talking about Abraham and this question of faith and good deeds. vs 1-2: "Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What were his experiences concerning this question of being saved by faith? Was it because of his good deeds that God accepted him? If so, then he would have something to boast about."
We know we are saved by faith, not of works, but it's easier than we realize to subconsciously slip into a "deserving the gift" mentality. "I deserve to be saved."
Have you ever received a gift that really humbled you? I remember a nationally known speaker telling the story of a gift he received. He's fairly well off, nice car, nice home, etc. After a service a lady, who he knew was dirt poor came and gave him a check for $5.00 to support his ministry. He shared how that gift really knocked him down to size. He realized how he did not deserve that $5.00 not to mention all the other blessings in his life.
Receiving a gift that you know you don't deserve does an incredible thing to your heart, if you acknowledge the fact of how undeserving you are.
Think of your salvation. Something you deserve? Sunday School answer is "No." But does your heart bear that sentiment? Take a moment to think of this gift of salvation. Think of the cost. Think of the giver. Think about yourself as the recipient.
In Romans 4:4-5 it says, "...being saved is a gift; if a person could earn it by being good, then it wouldn't be free-- but it is! It is given to those who do NOT work for it."
Psalm 13 starts out "How long will you forget me, Lord? Forever?" it continues to lament about the anguish of the heart. but in verse 5&6 "But I will always trust in you and in your mercy and shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord because he has blessed me so richly."
No matter where you feel you are at, in a season of blessing or trial, you are not deserving of this gift of salvation. Yet, it has been given you. Rejoice in it this day!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
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