Ephesian 2:4-5–But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved—
Whenever I find myself in “one those moods” where self-pity tries to overwhelm me, my main thought is “what I deserve”. Which always comes from a “prideful standpoint”, not from a spiritually induced “gospel standpoint”. Which is why if I don’t get in the Word, and seek to remind myself throughout the day what I truly deserve, than my joy evaporates quickly.
Now you maybe thinking, if you are in a wonderful season of life, how pathetic and unstable my spiritual life is, and I should just be grateful I am not sick, or suffering like people in other countries, which is true! But the issue is never circumstantial if you are thinking in terms of joy as a Christian. Because you don’t need to be a Christian for joy in circumstances, because the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).
When circumstances are going well, whether it’s in family, career, etc. we seldom become humbled by them, if we are not mindful of God while experiencing them. It becomes easy to forget that the reason we have any good, is because of God (James 1:17). So the idea that we deserve these good circumstances because we worked hard, or did spiritual devotions, etc. usually makes us proud. Ironically, when we’re proud we forget the gospel, and focus on what we have earned, not what we have failed in…
In being mindful of the gospel, the moment I recall what I do or don’t deserve, Jesus should come to mind. Because He didn’t deserve to be put in the situation to die, but did, for the sake of us getting grace that we don’t deserve! So for me to be in the face of God complaining about what I do or don’t deserve, the Spirit sharply rebukes me, in what Christ didn’t deserve at the hands of my sin! To live acknowledging that God is rich in mercy, seems to always “quiet down” my complaining of what I do and don’t deserve…
In His Love, Ld
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