Unworthy but Worth It
Welcome to a new day and remain blessed
“O God…I am unworthy of all the loyal love and of all the faithfulness that you have shown toward your servant.” Genesis 32:9-10) Grace is undeserved but greatly needed. It is one of those words that brings peace and joy just by hearing it. In fact, the root of the Greek word for grace (charis) actually means “I rejoice, I am glad.” We cannot have grace without joy.
And what is the greatest act of grace we will ever experience? 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 says: “For the love the Christ has compels us, because this is what we have concluded, that one man died for all; so, then, all had died. And he died for all so that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for him who died for them and was raised up.” Though we are unworthy of his sacrifice, God believes us to be worth His grace. “God so loved the world that He sent His one and only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
As the church, we should be shouting this grace from the rooftops. Our joy in our salvation should draw people to us like magnets. Gordon MacDonald once noted that the world can do everything the church can do… except one thing. He wrote, “You need not be a Christian to build houses, feed the hungry, or heal the sick. There is only one thing the world cannot do. It cannot offer grace.”
Are we offering grace to everyone we meet? Do we judge (maybe even unconsciously) who we believe is worthy of hearing the gospel despite the fact that Christ came to save all sinners? Have we forgotten that we are all unworthy?
David Seamands, a Christian counselor, wrote: “Many years ago I was driven to the conclusion that the two major causes of most emotional problems among evangelical Christians are these: the failure to understand, receive, and live out God’s unconditional grace and forgiveness; and the failure to give out that unconditional love, forgiveness, and grace to other people.” This world is not worthy, neither are we. God didn’t care. He chose to love us anyway.
He chose to save us and bless us because of His love and not our worthiness. God’s grace should make us shout for joy. Have you celebrated God’s grace today? Have you shared it with the least likely candidate? If not, what are you waiting for?
Shalom and remain blessed.