Oh, how those words have a meaning that is so true and humbling. I need to be reminded of who I was before my Savior took me by the hand and in His humble glory saved me. I was like our heroine, a prostitute (metaphorically). Even at eight years of age I was a wicked sinner headed for damnation. Yes, as an eight-year-old I had spited God—I had done all of those things you find in Romans 1.
Then God reached down and called out to my heart. He spoke words of love and peace and life. He said he would make His own, call me daughter and friend. One day I’d even be His Son’s Bride. I had been offered the most beautiful gift. Jesus had paid the ransom for me. I was now his. He paid the debt for all my sin, my sorrow, and my shame. (Yes, even an eight-year-old has sin, sorrow, and shame!)
His blood, the sacrifice of my depravity, covered my unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil, envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, gossip, slander, hatred of God, insolence, arrogance, pride, and disobedience to my parents (Ro. 1:29-30). It is a great and beautiful thing that I have been made a princess of grace. I have been crowned with what I don’t deserve—mercy leading to a blessed life. And how quick I forget it.
It was not my own goodness that saved me—I was a practioner of wickedness. It was not I who crowned myself with favor. No, it was the Lord and the Lord alone. Don’t miss it. I could not have saved myself. I could not have worked my way to this place in the kingdom. An enemy does not become a daughter on her own accord.
Before Christ’s gallant entry I was worthy of one thing and one thing only—death. Remember it for that’s the humbling truth. No one enters the kingdom of God by their own merit.
I need to be reminded of who I was when I took that first step…
“But God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. […] For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”
Romans 5:8, 10
Then God reached down and called out to my heart. He spoke words of love and peace and life. He said he would make His own, call me daughter and friend. One day I’d even be His Son’s Bride. I had been offered the most beautiful gift. Jesus had paid the ransom for me. I was now his. He paid the debt for all my sin, my sorrow, and my shame. (Yes, even an eight-year-old has sin, sorrow, and shame!)
His blood, the sacrifice of my depravity, covered my unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil, envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, gossip, slander, hatred of God, insolence, arrogance, pride, and disobedience to my parents (Ro. 1:29-30). It is a great and beautiful thing that I have been made a princess of grace. I have been crowned with what I don’t deserve—mercy leading to a blessed life. And how quick I forget it.
It was not my own goodness that saved me—I was a practioner of wickedness. It was not I who crowned myself with favor. No, it was the Lord and the Lord alone. Don’t miss it. I could not have saved myself. I could not have worked my way to this place in the kingdom. An enemy does not become a daughter on her own accord.
Before Christ’s gallant entry I was worthy of one thing and one thing only—death. Remember it for that’s the humbling truth. No one enters the kingdom of God by their own merit.
I need to be reminded of who I was when I took that first step…
“But God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. […] For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”
Romans 5:8, 10
…forever reigns the King…
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