It's not about me

It's been a while since I've actually done this. I love keeping a blog, especially about what I'm reading on a daily basis. But, the truth is, it takes time to do something like this. And sadly, time is not something I have an abundance of. I'm hoping to do better. But, we've heard that one before.

²⁵"I--yes, I alone--am the one who blots out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again. (Isaiah 43:25, NLT, emphasis mine)

This past week I had a deacons meeting at church. For whatever reason, I'm astutely aware of the last time we had Lord's Supper (it's a time that I very much look forward to, as I find it to be spiritually refreshing and renewing (though we should be spiritually refreshed and renewed daily...)). I don't remember the last time we had Lord's Supper (oh, actually, I do, right before our Youth mission trip in July), and knew it was time for one this quarter. I brought it up with Pastor, who mentioned we had a baptism that he'd like to do along with the Supper. He mentioned it would be either October 22 or 29. Knowing that I'm going to be out of town the weekend of Oct 29, I raised my hand and said, "I vote for October 22." I was then reminded that it didn't matter what I wanted, but when was convenient for the one being baptised. You see, it wasn't about me or what was convenient for me.

As I was reading through Isaiah tonight, I came across the above verse. It really caught my attention. I'm fully aware of Christ's sacrifice on the cross, His resurrection 3 days later, and what it means for me -- forgiveness of my sins and a renewed relationship with God the Father now, and eternal life with Him after I leave earth. It means that I have the Holy Spirit living in me, the same Spirit that Paul reminds us, "The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you" (Romans 8:11, NLT). I'm called a child of God. I'm being made into the image of Christ day-by-day. The list of the privileges resulting from the sacrifice Christ made could go on and on....

But here's the kicker. As God is speaking through the prophet Isaiah to the Israel and Judah, calling them to repentance, the above words are spoken. God blots out their (and our!) sins. What's amazing is, for whom He does it. It's for HIS sake! It was for Him and His glory that Christ came to die for our sins. It's a stark reminder to me that it's not about me at all, but all about God. I think we forget that. Well, I KNOW I forget it! I especially have a hard time remembering that I'm no better than other people. I get irritated when people don't behave the way I expect or believe they should. I forget the fact that my Christian brothers and sisters are saved by the same Grace that I'm saved by. I get cocky in what I perceive to be my good works which, again, in Isaiah, I'm reminded are no more than "filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6).

I'm a sinner saved by Grace. It' s nothing I did, or can do. It's all about what God did....for HIS glory! I'm reaping the incredible benefits of God's glorication through Christ. Now, the question is, will I begin really living like it? Or continue to believe that it's all about me?