We need to remind ourselves of the message of the Gospel because it stirs our heart affections to serve Jesus with all of our heart, soul, strength, and might. When we do, we stand in awe of who He is and what He has done. No longer do the cares of this world seem monumental. Remember, there is nothing we can do to earn our salvation. We are dead in trespasses and sin; however, because of the work of Jesus, we are made alive in Him. And we so readily forget this simple truth. We get caught up in our daily routines and the troubles of this world. And as a result, we forget who we are and we belittle what Jesus did for us on the cross.
WHEN WE FORGET…
We wallow in self-pity, doubt, fear, anxiety, jealousy, and comparison when we take our eyes off of Jesus. We have an identity break-down, seek comfort idols, and latch onto the things of THIS world. Social media, zoom meetings and the news consume our time. Somehow we spend more time surfing the internet, Web MD, Instagram, and Pinterest….than in the Word of God.
When we forget the work of Jesus on the cross, we become complacent. We seek other things. We no longer stand in “Awe and Wonder.”
As long as we keep the emphasis on us instead of on a higher vision, we will take small comfort from discussions of identity — and we will see little lasting change. Our primary problem as Christian women is not that we lack self-worth, not that we lack a sense of significance or purpose. It’s that we lack awe. —Jen Wilkin
Too often, we lack awe concerning who Jesus is and what He has done. Jesus said if you’ve been forgiven much, you would love much. You will only be able to worship to the extent you realize how much you’ve been forgiven. If we think we haven’t been forgiven all that much, our worship will be little. Understanding our sinfulness is essential. We will only stand in awe if we realize the price that was paid for our redemption and forgiveness. We all have been forgiven much. It is the work of Jesus. In Him, we stand in awe.
WHEN WE REMEMBER
If you’ve ever stood on the edge of the Grand Canyon, you are suddenly aware of just how small you are. Many writers have tried to encapsulate the beauty in words, but it seems that justice can not be done. Words like mysterious, vast, amazing and overwhelming may be used. But in all honesty, it is impossible to put human meaning to such a place.
If a place like the Grand Canyon can take our breath away, how much more so should the Creator of this magical place. How much more so should we stand in awe and wonder of God, Creator of the heavens and earth. A God who has determined to set his affections on us before the beginning of time. Truly, how great is this God who requires nothing from us for the wages of our sin. For as a child of God, there is nothing we’ve done that can keep us out. Chew on these words…
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight. Ephesians 1:3-8
IN AWE & WONDER
The reason we struggle with our sin…and become complacent…is either because we forget how dead we are OR we forget to stand in awe of Jesus and what He did. The truth is we all are sinners who like to sin. We are dead in the trespasses of sin BUT we’ve been made alive in Jesus Christ. It is God who chooses to give you life. It is God who is writing a story in your life.
We can say we love Jesus and He died for our sins and go on living our lives our way. Or, we can remind ourselves of Jesus’ story and stir our heart affections towards Him by reminding ourselves of the cost for our sin.
Is there anything today that seems bigger to you than Jesus? Do you spend more time thinking about COVID-19, your job, your finances, your future than you do about the Word of God?
Prayer: Spend some time contemplating the words of “How Great Thou Art.”