Amazing grace . . .

 

A friend told us that her son was not interested in salvation because he did not want to be in heaven with “those religious leaders who abused children.” While this revealed his sense of justice, it also shows he thinks some sins are worse than others (like his own sin of rejecting God’s grace) and negates the power of God to forgive and change lives of those who repent.

For July, MacArthur writes about the wonders of being united to Christ, of having access in prayer to God and to receive His blessings, our role as His children, our spiritual security, and much more. All these are reason for boundless joy and heartfelt thanksgiving. He begins with this:

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:4–10)

God has a different value system than the world. For instance, people value those who are healthy, wealthy, wise, popular, have a big house, and on goes the list of things that do not last and have no advantage in impressing Almighty God. That value system rejects Christianity, but God considers His people as chosen and precious. I need to remember His thoughts about me:

For consider your calling . . . not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:26–31)

It is easy to measure myself against others and have a pity party. They have a nicer house or greater skills,  are better cooks or gardeners, make more spectacular quilts, or their writing attracts more readers. However, the NT reminds me that this is foolish. Paul said:

Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding. But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you. (2 Corinthians 10:12–13)

This means sticking to thinking of myself as God thinks of me, without comparing myself to others. Paul also said, “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” (Romans 12:3)

Worm theology has some Christians eating dirt and feeling as if they are no good at all. Others boast in all their accomplishments and how hard they strive to please God. Either way, the focus is on self rather than Christ. But when I consider what He has done for me, there is balance: the humility of being totally unworthy and useless yet being chosen and precious in the sight of God, holy, acceptable through Christ, a part of His family. He gives me status as part of a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a recipient of His mercy and the label that I am His child, no matter what I think of myself.

PRAY: What can I say to You, Lord? Your mercy and grace are overwhelming. The world’s list of what is important is a joke compared to all that You have done and keep doing in my life. I’ve heard many complaints about all sorts of things and realize that just being able to draw the next breath is a gracious gift from You. Enable me to always count your blessings and be thankful every day.

PONDER: Read Ephesians 1:3-14 and 1 Peter 1:3–9, thanking God for His mercy.