Not Because We Deserve It

I'm all about getting what I deserve. 

Let me clarify that…if what I deserve is AWESOME!  But, if what I deserve isn't so wonderful, I'll take a hard pass on that.

There’s something about that word deserve.  It can depict a reward worthy of something good...or bad.  When I think of deserving, my mind usually goes to the good, not the bad.  

"Hey, wait a minute.  I deserve ice cream too."

When I was a child...you know this isn't going anywhere good.  I may have rightfully deserved discipline on, let's say, many occasions. 

There were five children in my family.  We rushed on the scene in less than 7 years.  I was number four in the birth order but held first place in naughtiness. 

 

I could go on and on here listing all my childhood infractions, but they are probably nothing new to your own childhood misbehavior.  

If, you also skipped school in the 1st grade and spent the afternoon alone at the park--multiple times.  Or at the age of nine, you took a black crayon and scribble on the hardwood floors for no other reason than you were hiding and there was a black crayon so...obviously you would scribble all over the floor with the black crayon. 

Or maybe you also pulled a few choice pieces of your sister's clothing off the hangers and then told your parents she didn't hang up her clothes, and you got money for doing that.  That's called positive reinforcement.  

You will be glad to know that for most of my childhood failures, I got what I deserved, and getting what I deserved help form me into a better person.  But I'm thankful that when I choose God, He chooses Grace for me instead of giving me what I deserved.

In 2 Timothy 1:9, Paul the Apostle talks about the wonderful things we received from Christ even though we didn't deserve it.

For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.

One day, all mankind will receive exactly what they deserve.  

I'm thrilled beyond words that for this very underserving child, that God saved me and called me to live a holy life because that was his plan for me from the very beginning of time.

I love the definition of GRACE; unmerited favor.  When we each experienced God's grace, we received something we didn't deserve--forgiveness.

It's not because we deserve it, but because He showed His grace.