REALITY
CHECK
Psalm
103:6-18
Psalm
103:9-11: “He will not always accuse,
nor will He harbor His anger forever; He does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens above the earth, so great is His love for
those who fear Him.”
“That was a great pass!” Ten hear
old Brad complimented his classmate Jeremy as they threw a football around. “Your spiral is getting tighter every day.”
“Thanks, Brad.” Jeremy said. “Michael’s been helping me….But I still have
a long ways to go.”
Michael is Jeremy’s older brother. He’d be the first one to say that Jeremy
isn’t ready to turn pro…(yet). Jeremy totally
agrees.
But too often people actually believe they’re
that awesome after receiving a compliment!
Their head puffs up with imagined greatness. This diminishes their sense of indebtedness
to God: cheapening the price He paid (Jesus’
death) to rescue us, BECAUSE…
No one is innocent of sin! Just ask someone, “Are you a sinner?” The likely response would be a comparison:
“Well, I never killed anybody!” But have
they ever criticized another person?
Have they ever put someone down in front of others? That is like killing another’s worth, their
value as a human being—who is made in God’s image. Making fun of a person kills the spirit. The face droops. He feels awful.
The opening Scripture says that God
does not treat us as our sins deserve—the wages of sin is death! (Romans 6:23).
People usually don’t’ take criticism
well because it hurts their feelings.
But let’s get real. No one is perfect. Thinking of ourselves higher than we should
is dangerous. There will always be
somebody who is more athletic, smarter or better looking.
Are
you guilty of any of these?
Later, Brad pointed to a chubby
guy. “Jeremy, how much do you think he
weighs? Ha-ha!”
Do you judge others? Did you know that Matthew 7:1 says, “Do not
judge, or you too will be judged.” Check
out the lesson linked below to see how to get God’s benefits—His love, His
grace—instead of the wrath you really deserve for all your sins!
Maybe we should perform a reality check
on ourselves every now and then.
Take
Home Nugget
Considering that we’re to be holy because God
is holy (1 Peter 1:16), if God never did anything more than “just” redeem us,
He has already done far more than we deserve!
Holy Father, thank You for not dealing
with me according to what my sins deserve!
Thank You, Jesus, for purchasing my pardon and forgiveness on the
cross! I owe You for what I can never
repay, Your love and grace—far beyond what I deserve! Amen.
J.D. Griffith
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