Isaiah 43:25 (NLT) “I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again…”
for his own sake?
How do I look at the forgiveness of my sins, my salvation – or that of anyone else – if it is only “for His Own sake?” I’ve never considered that God blotted out my sins FOR HIS OWN SAKE. I always thought it was for my sake. To rescue me from going to hell, right? This simply highlights the faulty filter through which I see myself, my life. The fact that I constantly evaluate circumstances and events through the lens that has ME at its center, reflects the individualistic, self-indulgent character that epitomizes most of us who call ourselves Christians today. Sadly, I am too often the center of my own world. Somehow, I’ve taken what God says He did for His Own sake, and owned it as mine.
Who is increasing? who is decreasing?
As soon as I hear the words come out of my own mouth, I realize it means that I’ve stolen from Him; I’ve appropriated as my own what belongs to Him! I’ve twisted (at least in my own mind) His work so that I have increased and He has decreased. Am I not guilty of shaping Him in my own image here? Of course, I am the recipient of His work; my sins are forgiven, and He’s “forgotten” them. But what does it mean that He did this for His Own Sake, rather than for mine?
Where's the focus?
I guess it comes down to focus, doesn’t it? Who is the focus of His work? Him . . . or me? The challenge for me is to recognize my “bent” toward making myself the standard against which I measure everything. I want Him to be the center of my world. When I’m the center, things get ugly really quickly. That’s not what I want . . . do you?
Yes, The more I learn about Christ I realize just how broken I am, and that it is His work and mercy alone that is saving a wretch like me.
Thanks again for your thoughts Rick.
Thanks, Aaron!
You’re right Rick. We are Aliens not of this world. We are just passing through and NOTHING we accumulate for “ourselves” here on earth passes into the Kingdom. Our treasures must be stored up in heaven were moth and rust do not destroy and thieves do not break in and steal. Jesus reminded us that his kingdom is an upside down kingdom. We need to remind ourselves daily that we need to die to ourselves and put His Kingdom causes first…..
Ahhh yes, to die to ourselves . . . that is the issue, isn’t it?
How true is it that we always find ourselves measuring our lives by the wrong “ruler” (Ruler).
When we measure our lives by our own earthly standards, we will always fall short of Gods best for our lives. It is only when we submit ourselves completely to Jesus (our Ruler) that He will direct our paths to bring glory to Himself instead of ourselves. As the song says….. “trust and obey for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”
Yes . . . and I love that song!
Amen Rick! I agree.