08/22/2017
Do you have an inkling of worthiness? Do you feel that you are owed forgiveness or that in some way you deserve to receive Jesus? If so then you are not prepared for His coming or the arrival of the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist knew what it felt to be unworthy.
“"I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Matthew 3:11 ESV
We, like John the Baptist, are not worthy to carry the sandals of Jesus. When we are seeking Him we may have some lingering thought that we are deserved of Him, but it isn't until we have the heart of John that we truly find Him. Our repentance and plea for forgiveness must come to completion in our utter abandonment of self worth before He lifts us up. Then, when He does lift us up, He provides us with worthiness, but only through Himself, and for His glory, and the glory of God.
“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."”
Matthew 3:13-17 ESV
When is our contrition enough? When are we prepared to receive Jesus, and the fullness of the Holy Spirit that follows? It is at the moment when we have prayed for forgiveness in sweat and tears, and our feeling of unworthiness is so complete that we have given up all hope in being worthy of His arrival. It is at that point He comes and we fall before Him in utter disbelief and joy that He has come.
When we are first saved it comes with tears and humility, amidst our total submission, and yet is followed with such a joy that we are almost overcome and unable to contain it. This is the worthiness that Jesus has imparted to us. Our joy is His, and it is filling every crevice vacated by our retreating selfishness. It is the result of having faced Jesus and said " I am unworthy Lord", only to hear Him say "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Our loss of self is the victory of Christ, and the gain of God.
If you have accepted the call of Jesus Christ and He has filled your life then you know this to be true, but if you are still a seeker then stop looking abroad and turn your attention inward. Ferret out every ounce of deservedness or thought of your being able to contribute somehow to your own salvation. Pray for the mercy and grace of God as you ask for undeserved forgiveness, and plead that He send His Lamb into your life to cleanse you. When your contrition is sincere and complete, in the moment when you think to yourself that you are too lowly or sinful for Jesus to care about you... He will arrive, and the cracks and crevices of your life will be repaired, and He will lift you up to Himself in embrace. Do this today, do this right now without delay, your tears and selflessness will become His joy before the Father, and you will begin your journey with Him... filled and lifted by His overwhelming presence and joy.
It isn't an accident that there is no prayer recorded in the Bible for salvation, or mention of any ceremony in which we are saved. Our salvation comes from within us and flows through us like a fountain as we abandon ourselves to Jesus... it isn't the result of some prayer, phrase, or pledge (although they do help us verbalized our desire and joy) but comes of a lost sense of worth and near abandonment of hope for redemption. In that moment when we think that there is no way that Jesus would save a sinner such as me... the tears come, the heartbreak is complete, and He arrives to claim victory.
As for the Holy Spirit and Fire? Well that is a lesson for another day... for today just bask in His joy and know that you are His and He is yours forever more. Greet Him like a child and feel the warmth of His presence course through you. He comes bringing yet another gift, the gift of the Holy Spirit and Fire; are you excited at the prospect?
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for the arrival of your Son in me, and the joy and fulfillment He has brought into my life. I thank you for sending Him to me, a sinner, who was so undeserving of Him. I wept once for my sinfulness, and nearly lost hope in salvation, but now I weep for the suffering He endured to redeem me, and in joy at the thought of His resurrection and ascension. In my hopelessness Father, you sent your only begotten Son to save me. In the moment when I was certain all was lost Jesus Christ took my hand and lifted me from the muck and mire I was in... He washed me clean. In Jesus my undeserved sinfulness was replaced with His worthiness, my sin was covered by His blood, and my life was changed forever. Praised be your name Father, and praised be the name of Jesus Christ your Son... my redeemer, and the vessel of all joy in my life.
Rich Forbes