I Deserve It!

“I deserve it!”

We have all uttered this phrase. We may all have different “its”, but we all say it.

Sometimes we even flip it around to say, “I don't deserve ___!”

This attitude rears its head in all aspects of our lives and even the church. People feel entitled. People feel slighted. People feel obligated. People feel shunned.

Reflected in attitudes toward programs, decision-making, leaders, and just about anything, we all grapple with the idea of what we deserve (or don't deserve).

We even grapple with God's love and salvation.

Some people feel entitled to God's love.

“I am a good person.”

“I go to church on Sundays.”

“I teach Sunday School.”

“You know how much I just wrote on that check?”

“I preach.”

“I am the evangelistic youth pastor.”

All these phrases can lead to a person feeling entitled to authority, influence, and even God's love.

Still, others feel there is NO WAY God could love them.

Here's the deal. You don't deserve God's love and salvation.

The only thing we deserve is death and eternal separation from the Holy, Loving, Righteous God.

But He gives us grace through Jesus's death, burial, and resurrection.

What is grace?

Today, I was reminded of what grace looks like practically in everyday life.

After cleaning up from eating lunch with the Mineral Christian School kids, one of the girls (we'll call her Susie) was sent back into the classroom and was not allowed to join the others in some fun skipping down the hallway. I am not sure of what happened outside, but I do know the end result.

This exercise up and down the hallway is a great way to help the students burn some extra energy after lunch.

While I was in the hallway watching the kids and talking to the lead teacher, Susie was summoned into the hallway.

The lead teacher gently said, “Susie you do not deserve to be in the hallway with the others, do you?”

Susie simply said, “No.”

“I am going to give you grace. Do you know what that means?”

Susie shook her head.

“Grace is when you get something you do not deserve. I am going to let you join the others in the hallway.”

Susie thanked her and ran down the hallway.

I couldn't help but think how simple that explanation and object lesson was for me to remember what grace is all about.

And it is built on the fact that I do not deserve God's love. But He gives it to me (and you) anyway.

Anyway, I was just thinking...

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

-Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)