Some of Keith and my favorite things to do on a trip is read a book and listen to teaching tapes. This time, we read "The Grace and Truth Paradox" by Randy Alcorn. It's a short , but thought-provoking book.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
Oh, to realize the depravity of our sinful nature...truth.
Oh, to know that we can't earn salvation and it's only through the gift of the power of God that we can make godly decisions and walk in obedience to His Word out of love for Him...grace.
When we think that we "aren't so bad", we minimize our need or a saviour. The truth is that we are NOTHING without Christ, we deserve NOTHING.
The criminal on the cross that came to the saving faith in Christ knew he had nothing to offer. He couldn't earn his salvation...he couldn't move. He was vulnerable, at the end with no options, no glorious past, no future plans to help further God's kingdom.
In the same way, we have nothing, we are nothing.
On the other hand, what a slap in the face to God to not live the life we are called to as Christians out of a response of love and gratitude...to call ourselves His Beloved while frolicking in the lusts of our flesh.
If we are truly to be called His we have no other option but to be sold out to Him in minute by minute devotion to His will, heeding His call for our lives, willing to die to ourselves, our desires, our compromises, our rationalizations. If we truly love Him, this will not be drudgery. Yes, it may be challenging and the war within may rage, but it is nothing if we love Him wholly.
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