08/22/2025
When we look at the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and all it means to us, do we feel that we are worthy of it? Do we feel that we are owed the forgiveness we were given or that in some small way we deserved the love of God that sent His Son into this world? If so then we are not prepared for His second coming nor the filling of the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist knew what it felt like to be unworthy, even as he served and baptized the masses. He spoke of this in Matthew 3 verse 11. My friends, it is only by the grace of God and the blood of Christ that we are redeemed.
“"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 might believe that we somehow deserve Him, but it isn't until we have the heart of John the Baptist that we actually realize the truth, which is that we don’t. Our repentance and plea for forgiveness is only made complete through our utter abandonment of self-worth. Then, when Jesus does lift us up, He will provide us with the gift of grace and worthiness, but only through Himself, for His glory, and for the greater 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, and when are we prepared to receive Jesus and the fullness of the Holy Spirit that follows? Our contrition is only enough 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 of being worthy of His arrival. It is at that point He will come and at that instant we will fall before Him in utter disbelief and joy that He has arrived, and that He loves us so.
When we are first saved it comes with tears and humility amidst our total submission, and this is followed with such joy that we are almost overwhelmed and unable to contain it. This is the moment when Jesus imparts His worthiness 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 proclaimed, “I am unworthy Lord", and hearing 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 glorious 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. Begin ferreting out every ounce of deservedness or thought you might have of being able to contribute somehow to your own salvation. Pray for the mercy and grace of God as you ask for His undeserved forgiveness and grace, and plead that He will send His Unblemished Lamb, His Son, 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, that He will arrive, and the cracks and crevices of your life will be repaired. This will be the moment when 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 towards the Kingdom of Heaven and presence of God with Him... filled and lifted by His overwhelming peace and joy.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV
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 deep 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 express our joy) but comes from a lost sense of worth and the abandonment of any hope that we can redeem ourselves. In that moment when we think that there is no way that Jesus would save a sinner such as us... that the tears come, the heartbreak is complete, and He arrives to claim eternal 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. Greeting Him like a child feel the warmth of His presence course through you as He abides in you. He comes bringing yet another gift, the gift of the Holy Spirit and Fire; are you excited at the prospect of that? Are you prepared to receive God’s grace and worship Him in Spirit and Truth?
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, even though I was a sinner and 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 the midst of my hopelessness Father, you sent your only begotten Son to save me. Oh how you loved me then, and oh how I love you now. In the moment when I was certain all was lost Jesus Christ took my hand and lifted me from the muck and mire of the fallen world I was wallowing in and washed me clean. In Jesus my sinfulness was replaced with His worthiness, every sin I had ever committed was covered by His blood, and my life was changed forever. Praised be your name Father and praised be the name of your Son Jesus Christ... my redeemer, and the vessel of your grace and of all joy and hope in my life.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Great are you my God forever and forevermore!
Amen!
“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
John 4:23-24 ESV
Rich Forbes