Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I
believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that
he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with
you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to
more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. (2
Corinthians 4:13-15 )
My current favorite song on Kinship Christian Radio is “King of Heaven Come”
by Paul Baloche. There is a line in that song that goes,
“We are children of Your mercy, rescued for Your glory,”
To be honest, I’d like to think God rescued me for me.
Doesn’t God love me? Didn’t Jesus die for me? Wasn’t the plan from the very
beginning to save me?
There’s a verse for that:
But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what
is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised
in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so
that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him
you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness
and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who
boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:27-31 )
When I look back on who I was before I was saved, there is certainly no basis
in that life for boasting about me. And, it wasn’t until I looked in the mirror
one day and knew that I could go no lower that I began to seek Jesus earnestly.
Surely, there is no glory in that due me.
In the following 28 years, God has lifted me up and blessed me beyond all
measure of what I deserve. He is also very faithful in keeping me humble
because whenever I think I’m getting close to be the perfect happy shiny little
Christian living in the shadow of a shiny plastic steeple, I let myself slip into
some sin or another that reminds me I am far from the holiness and perfection
I imagine others able to obtain.
And then the words of Paul’s letter to the Romans echoes in my head:
For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the
desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the
good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. (Romans 7:18-
19 )
Oh, I hear you, Paul. And, I remember why you said that thorn was in your
flesh:
So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness
of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to
harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. (2 Corinthians 12:7 )
And it is not lost on me that even though he uses the word “me” four times in
that sentence, the reason for the thorn is stated at both the beginning and the
end.
Peter, who probably knew as well or better than any of the disciples, what it
felt like to stumble and fall before the Lord, wrote:
Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God
opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5b )
And, Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who came among us as the baby
of a poor family taking shelter in a stable, who washed the dirty feet of the
disciples, who died a criminal’s death, says this:
Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child
shall not enter it.” (Mark 10:15 )
And it becomes crystal clear that God was right all along—I deserve no glory at
all. I am but a child in a world where only an omnipotent Father, a Savior Son,
and a guiding Holy Spirit can save me.
So my rescue is indeed and entirely for His glory alone, with nothing at all due
me.
Today’s Praise
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your
salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
(Ephesians 1:13-14 )