Many of us have seen our own sin, we’ve been sick of it, repented, and marveled at a Savior who knew every ugly, horrible, secret thing we have ever done and still loved us enough to die for us.
What great love that took! Many of us get this about the time we have kids of our own.
But then, for many of us, and many of our grace-heavy, modern churches, instead of helping our kids and others truly understand the enormity of their own sin debt and call to repentance, we skip right to the amazing grace “Jesus loves you so much” part.
I’m concerned when we do this, we aren’t helping others love Jesus “much” because they really haven’t understood their great sin debt (nor truly repented from) the “much” of their sins. (Luke 7:47)
I’ve actually thought a lot about this lately and wondered if our grace-heavy insistence to others about how much Jesus loves them, WITHOUT ALSO a focus on repentance of sin, perhaps has blinded some to how much they desperately need the Savior.
Perhaps this is why many sign up for the “make-me-happy Jesus” then walk away when He asks them to not lean on their own understanding (Prov 3:5-6) but deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Him (Matt 16:24).
Maybe this is why they walk away when they realize Jesus is actually asking them to surrender (lose their life) in order to follow Him. They just can’t believe this is where true life is found. (Matt 16:24)
For the thing is, when we take a sobering look at our sin-covered selves and the sinless, all-good Savior, , we can’t help but come to the understanding of that of the prophet, Isaiah, who said, “ Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” (Isa 6:5)
But after Isaiah truly understood his lost state and saw the King, the Lord of hosts, he had only one response, to follow the Savior with all He had, saying “Here I am! Send me.” (Isa 6:8).
For when we truly understand the depth of our sin and the gift of the Savior, when we know we truly owe Him everything, when our eyes truly behold Him, our response should be to follow Him wherever He leads knowing we owe Him all and can trust Him for everything.
Oh friend, may we truly understand we have been bought with the highest of price (1 Cor 6:20), and may the redeemed say so, explain to others so, and live to give glory to God!
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Kim Jaggers Ministry 