April 3

Day 20: Justification and Preservation

We now know we will continue our stay-at-home, hunker down lives through (at least) the end of April. Some of us are getting quite used to the new routines, others not so much. Maybe the extroverts feel caged, while the introverts feel free. Maybe we vacillate between the two (?)

Maybe some of us are finding space to review, to evaluate, to question ourselves. The stark and brutal reality of who we really are is perhaps becoming easier to admit and articulate to ourselves.

An unspoken truth is this; we all fear death, especially our own death. And in our "home detention" we're being reminded everyday of the threat of death.

1 Timothy 1 finds Paul telling young Pastor Timothy that he is thankful to Jesus for considering him faithful and thus appointing him to gospel service. But the "even though" that follows (verses 123-15) is huge for me...

"...though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost."

Paul knew what he deserved. He is grateful for what he got instead. He is a prime trophy of God's grace.

This blows a gaping hole in my propensity to self-justify myself to God and others, even to self-protect myself from death. I like to control, manage, inflate and massage my reputation and my eventual demise.

But the glaring truth is - I needed and need salvation no less than anyone else. Paul was amazed that Jesus saved him. I need to be amazed too.

Hebrews 2:14-15 says, "Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he (Jesus) himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery."

Through faith, and in spite of being enslaved to our still-lingering fear of death, we can be delivered; salvation is at hand. Jesus paid the price for our deliverance.

So where does that leave you and me? (I return again to this passage...)

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 says, "For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God."

It is the self-justifying and the self-preserving that here are called the "wise, the powerful, the noble, the strong." And they are brought to "nothing."

And it is the (countless) chiefs of sinners, "the foolish, the weak, the low and despised, the ones who seem not to matter," the ones who know they fail at self-justification, the ones who know they cannot control death, the ones who will no longer brag about themselves before God; it is those who are delivered.

This leaves no room for boasting in myself.

Maybe this past week has caused me to again consider my great need, and the great salvation Jesus has accomplished.

And maybe I'm left with just this: "And because of him [you and I] are in Christ Jesus, who became to [you and me] wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption...

so that, as it is written, 'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.'"

I'll brag on the One who alone can justify and preserve.