If you look at yourself, you WERE a wretch – not ARE. You are undeserving. And yet, you have been chosen by God’s grace – it isn’t of yourself. Look at Ephesians 2 – this is written about and to all who accept the gift of life in Jesus through faith.
“But God, being [so very] rich in mercy, because of His great and wonderful love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of our sins, He made us [spiritually] alive with Christ (for by His grace—His undeserved favor and mercy—you have been saved from God’s judgment). And He raised us up together with Him [when we believed], and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, [because we are] in Christ Jesus, [and He did this] so that in the ages to come He might [clearly] show the immeasurable and unsurpassed riches of His grace in [His] kindness toward us in Christ Jesus [by providing for our redemption]. For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God;…” [verses 4-8]
These verses not only tell us Who, but the What, Why, and How! Need some scriptural examples? What about Abraham? How about Peter? Paul? When you look at their lives you see people just like you, doing things just like you (that you’d prefer not to) but they also had faith (Hebrews 11). Their actions weren’t always ‘good’ or right but at their core they also believed and their faith God accounted as righteousness. Have you ever truly taken the time and thought of this gift (Your faith), that depends totally on you and your decision, and it is as much about your future as it is about your now? Hint. The Father even gives to all a measure of faith (Romans 12:3). But again… a choice on our behalf.
The point is never our worthiness, it’s also not our past. It’s not about works… though works are an expression from us when we become His workmanship created for those works He has already prepared for us (Ephesians 2). The point is always the mercy of God shown by His Grace which He bestows on us in abundance.
Bottom line… it’s NOT all about you. And yet, it is all about you. Do you realize that Jesus would still have gone to the cross even if it was – only for you? He went without strings attached. But in doing this He provided the most incredible gift to us. He didn’t ask us to become perfect or even only ‘better’ before we accepted His gift. It is with outstretched hands that He presents His gift to us. What does He bring? Everything worth bringing: life, peace, joy, purpose, fruitfulness, love, abundance, protection, fellowship and these are only part of what’s contain in His free gift to us.
What do we bring? Ourselves. Right now. Right here. Yes, He did save a wretch like you but that’s not who He saw and sees. While we come just as we are, He has plans for each and all of us: Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” [AMP]
If pride [in the form of I can do it myself, or I don’t need this, or I’m not worthy of Him) is stopping you… why? All those are lies that you tell yourself or that the devil has attempted to make you believe. If you can believe a lie… you can also renounce it. ‘And yet…’ is always available for us all.
