Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
Must the one who truly believes in Jesus live under the tension of feeling unworthy, "the chief of sinners," sensing a constant conviction of being in debt? Is this the proper way for a Christian to feel? If Jesus were living here, would He feel like He had a daily debt to pay, an obligation to live for others and not for Himself? What can we know for sure?
(1) He invites us to "come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ... My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (Matt. 11:28-30).
(2) "The Savior of the world" has redeemed you, saved you, pulled you out of the mire, died the second death that would have been yours; adopted you into the Father's family. Ephesians 1:3-12 details in precision all the riches of His grace that He has already given you in the gift of Himself. Even the bread you have eaten today is the purchase of His cross, for you. Infinite wealth has been lavished upon you; and you are to know, to realize, to revel in your new status as a prince or princess "in heavenly places in Christ."
(3) But genuine faith (as opposed to the popular counterfeit) has a built-in defense against a terrible spiritual arrogance that is so bad that it actually stinks and drives people away from Christ. Most pathetic of all delusions is the vain self-confidence that can assume you are specially honored by Heaven when in fact Jesus may be deeply ashamed of you, and abhors your unlikeness to His character.
(4) The built-in defense against this tragedy? The heart-awareness of what it cost the Son of God to save you. In the midst of your rejoicing in your salvation you forever sense that it is all a gift undeserved. It becomes a joy to remember that you are eternally, infinitely in debt.
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: June 30, 2002.
Copyright © 2014 by "Dial Daily Bread."
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