Lordship Living — God Provides
Sermon: The Blessings We Don’t Deserve — Relationship
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Duration: 31:07
Size: 14.2 MB
“Go Ahead—You Deserve It!”
(Don’t You?)
Have you ever noticed some people around us don’t seem to get what they deserve? I mean, you’re standing in line at the grocery, you’re dog-tired, the kids are squealing, and some young, skinny, cute person—without a care in the world—steps in front of you. Did I mention you’re in the line for “12 Items Only,” and the line-breaker has 35 (you have only 3)?
If only we were God! We could discreetly point our finger and ZAP—the line-breaker would shrink to the size of the little person we already knew her to be (about the size of a housefly). Then the clerk would swat the little annoying creature, and we would once again be ready to pop our groceries on the belt.
Ah, but line isn’t like that, is it? We see undeserving persons receive glory, promotions, honor and other benefits all the time, when we know full well they don’t really deserve them (but we do).
What do we really deserve? It’s a question worth asking. Today let’s examine it and try to find some answers.
The Blessings We Don’t Deserve
- God expects us to extend grace and mercy to those who seemingly don’t deserve them, because the truth is, we don’t deserve them any more than they do.
- As we consider the characters Jacob, the Prodigal Son, and the Dying Thief, remember: God provides new beginnings for old scoundrels.
Three Undeserving Scoundrels
- Without doubt, our God is the God of underdogs.
- Jacob was an old scoundrel who received a blessing from the Father, and who finally turned from rebellion to a right relationship with the Lord.
- The Prodigal Son was an old scoundrel who received a blessing from his father and finally turned from his rebellion and to obedience and humility.
- The point is: the Dying Thief was an old scoundrel who received a blessing from God in his final breaths.
Rebellion, Religion and Relationship
- Jacob truly represents an undeserving rebellious scoundrel. But his older twin brother, Esau, represents an apathetic, religious scoundrel.
- Jacob, the Prodigal Son and the Dying Thief—clearly understood they did not deserve to receive the blessings of Father God—so they finally humbled themselves, turned from rebellion, and entered into right relationships with the Lord.
- Rebellion is shaking a fist in God’s face.
- Religion is climbing the ladder of self-righteousness believing we will meet God at the top.
- Relationship is God coming down the ladder in the person of His Son and meeting us at the bottom rung where we’ve humbled ourselves.
Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe.
Sin has left a crimson stain;
He washed it white as snow.
—Elvina Hall
Next week: How Am I Doing?