Man, I'm good!

The natural tendency of the human heart - the heart born into and tainted by sin - is to look down on others while simultaneously propping itself up.  Sure, we all have flashes of generosity, kindness and compassion but, in general, our tendency is to look out for ourselves at all costs while treading others down not just with our words but moment by moment with our thoughts. This is why we need the gospel.

Here's my real-life example.  While riding my bike this morning, I passed a car full of people behaving inappropriately.  Immediately, I began judging them guilty of their faults and even started to pat myself on the shoulder for not behaving that way.  Quickly though, a song from last Sunday's worship service popped into my mind:

I once was lost in darkest night and thought I knew the way.  The sin the promised joy and life had led me to the grave.  I had no hope that You would own a rebel to your will and if You had not loved me first I would refuse you still. 

But as I ran my hell-bound race indifferent to the cost, You looked upon my helpless state and led me to the cross.  And I beheld God’s love displayed, You suffered in my place. You bore the wrath reserved for me, now all I know is grace.  Hallelujah, all I have is Christ.  Hallelujah, Jesus is my life.

Thanks to the gospel, as explained in the lyrics above, I was snapped out of my prideful judgment and once again sent gently to my knees by the mercy of my Savior.  Just like the folks in that car, I was lost, dead to sin.  But Jesus came and took the punishment meant for me so that I can have peace with God.  I'm no different than them accept that I've received the grace offered to me by the prompting of the Holy Spirit.  Now, because of God's grace over me, I can love gently and respond compassionately in word, deed and thought.  Not because I'm a good person but because I've been touched by grace, God's grace.

So the next time you're tempted to flog another person with your thoughts, remember God's grace toward you.  It'll cause you to put down your weapon and turn full-faced toward Jesus.

Following is the YouTube version of the above song is you'd like to listen to it:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwGSNv3vK3I