Are You Wretched?

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Yesterday I wrote of every woman's desire for Fairy Tale Love & of God's predestined plan to create that desire within her. I created my own little ditty in an effort to show that Jesus is the Rescuer that every Damsel in Distress is waiting for. (If you didn't read that post but would like to, cop & paste this address:)
(http://striving2baproverbs31woman.blogspot.com/2012/12/romance-damsel-in-distress.html)

Within my story I described how the princess reaches a point of hopelessness, a point of realization that perhaps she will never be rescued & indeed might not be worthy of it...perhaps that sentiment struck you as odd? In most Fairy Tales the Damsel, Princess, Scullery Maid, or whoever the Fair Lady be is of fine character. She generally is a young woman of high moral principle & of integrity. She exudes wonderful qualities such as kindness, selflessness, & generosity...it can be assumed that these delightful traits in fact contribute to her beauty. If was asked of her "is this lady a good person?" & the proper answer would be a hardy "Yes." Can it therefore be assumed that if our Fair Lady is good that when distress comes the Damsel is then deserving of rescue? More simply: Does her goodness maker her worthy of a Knight in Shining Armor?

I venture to say that if most of us were to examine ourselves (our actions, our words, & the fruits they produce) that we conclude that for the most part we are good. We try to do what is right. We try to be kind. We hold ourselves to a certain standard & strive to achieve it. When compared to serial killers, indeed we appear to be very good. What am I getting at?  My fear is that our conclusion that we are 'good' leaves us feeling somehow worthy of Abba's Grace. My trepidation is that when we begin to see ourselves as 'for the most part' good that we cease to see ourselves as sinners...and when we lose sight of that fact that we are sinners, we begin to become something more in our eyes. Without realizing it (I do not believe this is anyone's intention), but subconsciously when we lose sight of the fact that we are wretched, we can very easily lose the proper wonder that is due to the Grace we have been granted. You see, if a Damsel is deserving of a Prince then it is not nearly so wondrous that she gets one...she was worthy of him. He is her due reward, but can I ever be so good as to be worthy of Jesus living & dying for me? Can I ever be of high enough character to have Grace be my just reward? When we become callous to the precious, selfless, undeserved gift of Salvation, we begin to take it for granted, and when we take for granted the extreme sacrifice of Abba & His son, how can we truly be in accord with Him? Why am I concerned with this you might be wondering...well let me tell you.

We live in a culture & in a world that would have us be the gods of our own universe. We live in a society that is full of the concept of entitlement. We deserve a job & a good paying one at that. We deserve a nice house & car & clothes & computers & games & the list goes on. On top of all the materials good that we feel we merit, we also want accolades & praise for achieving those things. Christians are no different, we often just word it differently & pretend to give the glory to God all the while joining Him on the podium for the praise. Notice Me. Admire Me. Envy Me.Me.Me.Me.Me.Me. I'm not exaggerating. This is not merely the concepts of a secular nation & world, but the plot of Satan to diminish God's grace & our need for it. When we feel entitled & worthy of...well you name it, we lose our boundary. So perhaps we do deserve a roof over our heads & food on the table, but where does the sense of entitlement end? If I deserve a luxurious life, do I also deserve a man to be brutalized & murdered for my sake? My fear sisters & brothers, is that Satan has not only won over the bulk of the world to this concept, but that He is slowly numbing the Church to the extreme gift of God's Grace. When we begin to have such a high opinion of ourselves, we no longer feel wretched. When we no longer feel wretched ,we no longer feel the need for His Amazing Grace.
My intent is not that anyone walk away from this post feeling stepped upon or discouraged...my hope is merely that we can keep in perspective that no matter how good we are that at our best we are still far from worthy of Jesus...When we remember that, we will remain in awe of His gift....we will remain grateful....we will remain in passionate love with Him.  We know from scripture that no one is good:
Romans 3:11-12
'There is no one righteous, no not even one; there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one."
But if that isn't enough to convince us that we are wretched, here's a Wretched Test:
1. Have you ever lied? Even once counts...
2. Have you ever stolen? Even something small & cheap counts...
3. Have you ever spoken God's name disrespectfully?
4. Have you ever wanted something someone else has?
5. Have you ever looked upon someone with lust? (Matthew 5:28)
6. Have you ever been more worried about missing a football game (submit your interest) than praying or reading the Bible?
7. Have you ever worked on the Sabbath?
8. Have you ever been angry with someone? (Matthew 5:22)
9. Ever spoken disrespectfully of or to your parents?

The answer of Yes to these would make you a : Liar, Thief, Blasphemer, Coveter, Adulterer, Idolater, Murderer, & well there's no fancy word for a disrespectful person so I guess Rude will have to do.
Friends, I am all of these things.  I am Wretched. I am in sore need of Amazing Grace...time & time again. The beauty of the love story that I wrote about yesterday is that I am a Damsel in Distress...my distress isn't the typical trials of life, but that I am wretched & unworthy of Rescuing. That dire situation makes Abba's love story all the more intense. My Hero rescues me because even though I am unworthy, I am of priceless worth to Him! Now don't think that because we are unworthy & because we are not good that that somehow gives us an excuse not to try to be...if My Prince chooses to ransom me to be His Bride...to make me an heiress to His Kingdom...to make me a daughter of the King of Kings...well Honey, you can be darn sure that I am going to spend every day of my life trying to bring Glory to the Family Name! Please be let this be an encouragement today. Please take this not as condemnation but as the re-establishing of clear perspective & as a humbling re-awareness of the precious gift of salvation.  I am, a Damsel in Distress....I am unworthy of my Hero, but I am so humbled by & thankful for His Rescue...I am thrilled & anxious to make my citizenship in His Kingdom one that bears fruit.

Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound, That Saved a Wretch Like Me...
Be Blessed Beloved Ones...