Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Jesus Paid it All...

2 Corinthians 5:21

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

What sin do you most regret God assigning to Christ’s resume so that you could be pronounced “righteous”?

This was in a Bible study that I have been working my way through. And, I must be honest. Reading that question has given me pause all week. I really struggled (am struggling) with the contrary aspects of God, Jesus, being so supreme and powerful, and yet, shedding His glory to come to this stinky earth to die for the wretched person that I am. And, for whatever reason, this week, that question brought to my mind more stuff than I care to remember that the Lord has been so gracious to forgive of me.

I went back and forth this week between shame and guilt for all that I’ve done to make me so unworthy of everything that Christ has done for me, to utter hopelessness over how far it seems I still have to go. Not long after I began this whole cycle in my head, a dear friend sent me a link to this beautiful hymn, titled “Jesus Paid it All”, that I just love. I listened to it, and I was touched, but then this morning it came to mind again. So, instead of listening to it again, I pulled out the words and read them. And, it was a beautiful reminder that I can’t earn my salvation. I won’t ever be good enough. I won’t ever be clean enough. There is nothing that I can do.  Not on my own. “Jesus paid it all; all to Him I owe” The Word of God tells us that as well. “For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law’s demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.]” (Ephesians 2:8-9, AMP).

So, all of that to say this, if you struggle as I do with guilt over what the Lord has done for you, remember that what He has done for you, He has also done for every other person that has made the choice to love and follow Him. And, none of us deserve it one bit. We are all saved by His free grace and mercy. And, at least for me, it has been a nice reminder of why it is absolutely worth living my life to glorify Him!

Here’s the link to the song, just in case you needed a listen.

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