We want what we think we deserve. I’ll tell you what I think I deserve: to be forsaken, tortured, spat upon, beaten, whipped, nailed and hung on a cross and crucified for my sins. Guess what—By the grace of God, I didn’t get all of those things even though I deserved them. He paid the debt I owed. My Lord didn’t deserve them yet endured all of those things for a wretch like me and for you. My God didn’t deserve to give up His Son for my sake. I don’t deserve to have the gift of life, my amazing husband, my four precious blessings, health, material possessions, freedom, and yet my Father has blessed me with all of these things. Instead of pouting about not getting things we think we deserve or even selling our souls to the devil to get them, let’s be thankful for what have. Let’s seek the face of God, accept His Son, live for Him, accept His Word and obey it, and allow Him to change our hearts and daily mold us into His likeness. Let’s accept His salvation so rich and free. Let’s share this salvation with our children, families, friends, and even strangers. God deserves to be loved, appreciated, worshipped and adored for what He has done for us. He doesn’t deserve to be compromised in any way and deserves for us to stand up for Him at all costs. Now, I know we can never do anything to earn our way to Him. But shouldn’t knowing what He has done for us make us want to live a life of gratitude? Doesn’t it make us love Him so much that we will gladly give our very lives for Him?
I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me. Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to Your word to Your servant. Let Your tender mercies come to me that I may live; for Your law is my delight. (Psalm 119:75–77—NIV)
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. (1 Timothy 6:10–11—NIV)
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ (Luke 10:27—NIV)