Entitlement: Opposite of the Gospel

I had a heart-check moment this evening. Ya know, when you happen upon a situation in which you need to re-evaluate yourself, where you need to look at your heart and say, "Hmm. Something is wrong here."

This moment came after my husband sinned against me. I was hurt. And in that hurt, I felt a sense of entitlement well up inside my heart. I was thinking things like, "I do not deserve this. I would never do this to you."

Oh my goodness, how UNTRUE that is. I clearly need to be reminded of the Gospel.

The Gospel is Jesus Christ died for my sins, beat death, and therefore beat sin for all eternity {2 Timothy 1:8-10}. Here's the real question: do I appear in that sentence anywhere? Did I help Jesus accomplish this? Did I add to His work to earn my salvation? OF COURSE I DID NOT. THAT IS RIDICULOUS. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "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." This new life I have been given in Christ Jesus is not a result of anything I have ever done or will do. It is simply a gift, given to me by His grace.

Not only did I receive this free gift, but do you know the state I was in (and still am, every day) when I received it? "The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost" {1 Timothy 1:15}. I was and am the worst of sinners! Does the worst of sinners deserve anything? Does the worst of sinners actually avoid hurting others in ways they've been personally hurt, like I seem to think about myself? Of course not! Paul writes in Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Not only do I not deserve goodness, but I deserve damnation from God forever. I deserve hell. I deserve death. Yet, in my sin, Jesus called me to Himself to become a child of His and to play a role in His Kingdom.

After all of that reflection, I am moved to worship my Creator even more than before. I praise Him for correcting my heart. I am thankful for His Word, that I can read it and learn TRUTH. I am thankful that He saved the worst of sinners, me.

Me. I am the worst of sinners.

Believe the Gospel. It will change you forever.

"Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things!" {Psalm 98:1}