Category: Though Unworthy

1 Timothy 1:15 NIV
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.

Romans 5:8 NIV
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Matthew 9:12-13 NIV
12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Romans 3:27 NIV
27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith.

Though unworthy, God intervenes faithfully in our lives. Though unworthy, in a moment, we can receive God’s mercy and healing. Though unworthy, we are loved by God and can live lives of faith. Though unworthy, we are named into God’s family by the blood of Christ. (Adapted from P. Wayne’s message)

“Oh, what sharp eyes faith has, even when the eyes of bodily vision have become dim! We may see far more by faith than we can by sight” (C. Spurgeon, Spurgeon Commentary: Hebrews).

Prayer: Thank you, Jesus for the blood that washes me, and I can have real purpose and calling in this life of faith. In Jesus name, amen.

Let’s worship to “Unto Him” by Shane and Shane (click here).

– AW

1 Peter 2:9-10
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

In this passage, “you have received” is the qualifying reminder that God gives to us his mercy. We have received from the one who is worthy – it is not from ourselves. We are chosen, called and set apart by God to be his people. We are called “God’s special possession” blessed with purpose, not by any merit of our own, but because we have “received [God’s] mercy.” So, our faith is about the continual realization of our unworthiness, and that only God is worthy. This recognition of our unworthiness is a critical ingredient to this life of faith, because it places us as recipients of God’s extravagant love.

“The act of faith is God-directed, not just directed to the patriarchs who are blessed…The point is that God is sovereign over every person and every detail in their lives” (G. Osborne, G. Guthrie, Hebrews: Verse by Verse).

Prayer: Lord, your infinite, immeasurable, invaluable love has displaced the darkness of guilt, lies and worthlessness. Once we had not received mercy, but now we have received your mercy. Hallelujah! In Jesus name, amen.

Let’s worship to “More To Come” by Passion (click here).

– AW

Romans 3:10-12 NIV
10 As it is written:
 
“There is no one righteous, not even one;
11     there is no one who understands;
    there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away,
    they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
    not even one.”

“No person in human history demonstrates unworthiness like Jacob…[He] was the world’s greatest manipulator, the world’s worst parent and the man whose name is mentioned most in the Bible was – in a word: unworthy” (RT Kendall, Understanding Theology, Volume Three).

Jacob’s early unworthiness caused him to run scared, ridden with guilt. But in moments of faith, Jacob would respond to God’s grace and mercy, as he “reached a certain place” (Gen 28:11) to know the God of his family for himself. Jacob built an altar and established worship in that certain place to the faithful God whose promises are yes and amen.

Prayer: God, we confess that we get caught up in mistakes and failures which cause us to devalue our lives. We come before you, the only one who is worthy. Thank you for your promise to meet us where we are, who wrestles with us in the night, who speaks to us in our dreams, who guides us in our times of need, and who covenants with us. We confess our unworthiness to you, our holy God. In Jesus name, amen.

Let’s worship to “Pursue Me” by Worship Central (click here).

– AW

 

 

Colossians 1:9b -14 NIV
We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

We live in a culture of worth, and we are told that worth is a measurable and attainable value through our abilities, diligence, education, skills or experience. When “worth” is viewed in this way, it becomes a driver of identity as well as a source of anxiety. Many have been programmed to evaluate things, even our faith, in this way too. But what qualifies us as Christians? What is the Christian’s “net worth” (Adapted from P. Wayne’s message)?

We give “joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified [us] to share in the inheritance of his holy people.” Our net worth is found in Jesus “who rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your saving us, qualifying us and filling us with your Spirit so that we may live a life that pleases you. In Jesus name, amen.

Let’s worship to “Yes And Amen” by Jesus Culture (click here).

– AW

Let’s declare aloud the following psalm:

Psalm 96:1-9 NIV
1 Sing to the LORD a new song;
    sing to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Sing to the LORD, praise his name;
    proclaim his salvation day after day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
 
4 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
    he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the nations are idols,
    but the LORD made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
    strength and glory are in his sanctuary.
 
7 Ascribe to the LORD, all you families of nations,
    ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
    bring an offering and come into his courts.
9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness;
    tremble before him, all the earth.

The biblical necessity of acknowledging our unworthiness does not mean we wallow in self-pity or guilt. Instead, the acknowledgement of our unworthiness leads to a life that is fully dependent and focused on the Lord who is worthy. In other words, knowing our unworthiness causes us to point to the Lord’s worthiness (RT Kendall).

Prayer: For great are you, Lord! You are most worthy of praise and all glory is due your name. We humbly ask for your Spirit’s empowering to faithfully live lives marked by your grace. In Jesus name, amen.

Let’s worship to “The Praise Is Yours” by Matt Redman (click here).

-AW