06/06/2019
Are you resisting the urge to get on your knees today and ask Jesus to truly come into your heart because you don’t feel worthy? Have you toyed with believing, and tried to lead a good life so that one day you might make yourself good enough for Him? Well faith in Christ does not have perfection as a prerequisite, and walking towards Him is not a self-help endeavor, Jesus didn’t give His life for the perfect, He gave it for the lost, the sinners, the imperfect. He gave it so that you could ask for forgiveness and receive it by grace.
“"Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.”
Job 40:4 ESV
Of small account... Job says of himself that he is unworthy. Yet, If we look at the first verse of the book of Job we are told that he was considered blameless, but if we look closer, this is followed by the revelation that he would offer sacrifices to god for himself and for each of his children.
“There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.”
Job 1:1 ESV
In other words... asking for forgiveness was the act that cleansed Him, and made him blameless, it wasn’t something he had achieved on his own. Listen to him again as he says “I am of small account”, and ask yourself “isn’t this me?” Sinner ask yourself, and Christian ask yourself likewise.
Today it is the same for us as it was for Job, we too have to ask for forgiveness. You might say that you have nothing to sacrifice, and that you have never made a sacrifice, but God’s Word tells us that unlike Job our sacrifice has already been given for us.
“"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
John 3:16-17 ESV
You see, we are more like Job’s children... their father, Job, offered sacrifices for them so that they would be forgiven, and our Heavenly Father has offered a sacrifice for us... His Son Jesus Christ.
“he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.”
Hebrews 9:12 ESV
Yes, on our own we are indeed of small account. We are today, and we will be tomorrow, but the sacrifice of Christ, and the unwarranted grace of God cleanses us... if we will only accept His sacrifice and ask forgiveness. If we do this; if we accept Him, then we will become like Him... children of God.
“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”
John 1:12-13 ESV
So no you are not worthy, no you are not perfect, yes you are a sinner, and yes you are of small account, but all of that falls away with the simple words “Jesus, I accept you as my Lord and Savior. Father, I pray that you hear me now... I receive the sacrifice of your Son Jesus Christ as my own, and His blood as my offering... as the water that washes away my sin. Forgive me my sins, and take me as your child”
Can you pray this prayer today? Can you put away the feeling of unrighteousness, and the sinner mentality that Satan has bound you with and pray for forgiveness? Are you ready to be called a child of a God, and an heir and joint heir with Jesus?
“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”
Romans 8:16-17 ESV
Even some of us who identify ourselves as Christians are bound this way, but there should be no sinner’s mentality in us. We are washed by the blood of Christ, children of God, and recipients of His peace and joy. Sure you will fall down and scrape you knee on the world from time to time, but God’s grace, and the sacrifice of Christ are not there to convict you, but to redeem you once again, and He listens for your voice to cry out Abba!
“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"”
Romans 8:15 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for doing the hard work of preparing the sacrifice, and for offering it for me in the person of your Son Jesus Christ. Thank you Merciful Father for preparing a way for me to become worthy in your eyes... even though I was yet a sinner. Thank you Father for picking me up when I stumble, and washing my wounds clean once more by the perfect blood of Jesus, and through your grace that flows through Him. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God whose mercy and grace knows no end, and who has prepared a sacrifice that we might be forgiven, and known as your children. Hear me now, hear us now, as we claim the sacrifice as our own and ask your forgiveness in the name of your Son Jesus Christ.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,”
Ephesians 2:8 ESV
Rich Forbes