April 23, 2004

• The Secret is Out

  
  

  I wanted to let you in on a secret.  I am a first class sinner.  Ok, well, it's not really a secret.  But what I mean is that I don't mean that I am "generally good", "relatively good", and have made some boo-boos here and there.  No, the truth is, I am absolutely depraved.  I am not holier than you or better than you or anywhere near "good."  I am pretty wretched, and I won't feign otherwise. Knowing this reality has drastically altered my life.

  
  

  Sometimes I think that the only way one can be driven past one's fears and knowledge of one's limitations (which keep us from standing for Jesus) is to be really appalled by the reality of the wretched depths of one's sins.  We must understand our deep depravity.  We must look our sin in the face if we are to really understand the overwhelming breadth of God's grace.  When we understand what we have done to God, then we can understand what God has done for us.

  
  

  The Christians in this world who are entangled in this world and experiencing defeat rather than victory and not rising up to proclaim Jesus but allowing their fears to claim them are the ones who don't understand that they are sinners who desperately need Jesus.  If you think that you are relatively good and that your sins are not too bad, then you will never be desperate for a savior.  If you're not desperate for Jesus, you will never cling to Him so tightly; you will never breathe every breath with expanding gratefulness.  If you are not desperately grateful, you will never stand for Jesus and fight for Jesus in the face of opposition, adversity and persecution.  You will never understand the joys of sharing in His sufferings.  You will never know Him intimately, deeply and so satisfactorily as He longs to be known.  Jesus satisfies.  That is the Truth.

  
  

  When you know Jesus like this, you'd be willing to go anywhere with Him - and your faith in Him cannot be shaken.

  
  

  Lord, help me see sin in me the way you see sin - or just enough to see how wretched are my attacks against you when I fail to replicate your holiness.  Help me to know the depth of my sin so that I may understand the breadth of your grace.  I want to stand in awe and worship, to give you the praise that you deserve.

  • 4:25 pm
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