I apologize for my failure to post earlier. I am fighting this “bug” that is going around and since we will be heading out Sunday after church for Ohio I thought I better sleep in some. Little did I know a 2 hour nap would also be in order for the afternoon. 🙂
My title for this devotion is Deserving vs Undeserving.
Whenever one talks about mercy and grace, the subject always comes down to what we do and do not deserve. It’s only right. Mercy is not getting what we do deserve; grace is getting what we don’t deserve.Â
The past week in his book a SHELTER in the time OF STORM, Paul David Tripp had a different approach. It was mediation #42. I’m going to capsulize it.
I deserve:
- to be forsaken, to be forever cast away.
- to be rejected, to have God turn away and stay.
- His anger, to be punished for my wrong.
- His righteous judgment, the full weight of His Law.
I don’t deserve:
- His affection, the many things I could not earn.
- His provision, the daily gifts of His love.
- the rights of family, to be called His son.
- the warm reception, tender care and endless help.
- to call Him Father, to be welcomed in His home.
But I’m part of a family, His family. It’s a family I did not deserve or earn. (End of summary)
There’s a lot I am not deserving of. There is a lot I am also deserving of. None of it from my own doing. The longer I live and the more I study, the more I realize I have to rely on God’s mercy and grace.
“Father, I need your mercy and grace. I need your attention to the details of my life where I need straightened up. Help me to always remember what I deserve and don’t deserve.”
Bill, when you read this comment, I sure hope you are feeling better and on the mend! No, we are undeserving of God’s incomparable grace, but being a part of His family is a gift that can never be matched nor measured. It will forever blow my mind! Who am I, asked David, that the Lord would be mindful of me? Yet, He is, and He loves, and He extends His limitless grace to us all.
Blessings, and feel better soon, my friend!
Thanks for the wishes Martha. Like you, my mind is blown whenever I consider how much I don’t deserve and what I do deserve, and how God is mindful of me. Thanks for the good word.
Hope you get feeling better as well!
I’m getting there. Thanks
Prayers for a quick recovery. That bug seems to be hitting everywhere!
There is a song called, “At My Worst” that says, “How could you love me Jesus? How did you know my name? Why did you save me, Jesus? Guess I’ll never know, why you love me so, and I’ll never see what you saw in me.” It always brings tears to my eyes to realize just how much Jesus loves me and what He was willing to do because of that love.
That is the story of the bug. Standing outside in only a suit coat for a funeral at a cemetery was not the smartest thing I have ever done either. 🙂 Good words to that song Pam.
Amen, Bill. I’m with you. I had another spiritual reminder that I need to pass along the same grade and mercy I receive from our Father to the rest of this world.
How selfish this flesh is…
I’m glad I could spur some thinking and reminding Floyd. Thanks for the comment.
Bill, this is a great post. Once we get a revelation of God’s Mercy and Grace toward us, we are forever changed. And how can we then, not extend it to others? Thank you for this great devotional this morning. Hope you are feeling better by now.