I Am Not Worthy 25 November 2001 Dear Sisters Over the years, I have learned that it is a mindset with a lot of people to boost their own or another's confidence. I, too have fallen into the trap of 'over-encouraging' my children in certain areas, later to discover that they have adopted a haughty and puffed up attitude. This has been my own failing, and I also know that I am prone to adopting the same attitude myself. Fear not ~ I have had my own episodes of being too self-confident, prideful, haughty. I believe that no-one is exempt from this. Every type of media today "preaches" self confidence, to 'trust our hearts', 'believe in ourselves'. No where in the Word of God does it teach us to practice this. The lessons are, in fact, quite contrary: "The heart of man is desperately wicked; who can know it?" "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God". Romans 3:10-11 ".......that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou dist not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?" 1 Cor 4:6-7 "..... a man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven." John 3:27 Oh, dear Sisters, I thought that I was a *good* person. I haven't committed offences, I haven't done anything really 'bad' (in my own eyes!). Contemplating the above verses, I realise that just being a good person does not make me worthy of Heaven. Living a good life doesn't give me a free pass to eternity. I am not worthy. My idea of living a 'good' life is far different to God's idea of what is good. In Genesis 1:31 we read ".... And God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good...." Can you imagine this? God created the Earth for us. THAT is good! How can we compare what we think of as 'good' to what God sees as 'good'? I am not worthy. However, even though I am unworthy of salvation, I know that the Lord is not willing that ANY should perish. I am one of those 'ANY'. You, dear Sisters are of those 'ANY'. Even though I am unworthy of salvation, the Lord offers it as a free gift. How do I obtain this free gift? With a humble, repentant heart. Without this 'heart-set', it is impossible to be saved. Unless we realise that we are unworthy sinners, in need of a Saviour, how can we be saved? Oh, we have a great need. And Jesus Christ is our ONLY chance! No amount of self confidence will save us from hell. Only Jesus Christ. Only Jesus Christ. Even the strong angel in Revelation 5: 2-3 is unworthy: "....And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.." Only Jesus Christ is worthy ~ "....And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation...." Revelation 5:9 Dear Sisters, are you worthy of God dealing well with you? He has. He has loaded us with benefits. Daily. "Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah." Psalm 68:19 May we always remember that it is He, the Lord Jesus Christ who is worthy. Blessed be the Lamb. Blessed be the Lamb. Love, Helen |