The Most Undeserving Person
When I think of those most undeserving of Grace, I think of several people. The one that comes to my mind almost immediately is the thief on the cross. He has been such an encouragement to me through the years since I became a Christian because I struggle to rest in that Grace we were both given so freely. I like to ponder why God selected certain stories and people to include in His Word to us, and this man’s brief encounter with Jesus and his even briefer life as a Christian fascinate and inspire me. I thank God this man’s undeserved invitation to enjoy eternal life with Jesus in Heaven was included to open up my eyes to the unreserved gift of mercy and Grace we have been given.
I usually want to serve the Lord because I love Him so much and want others to know there is this mindboggling gift out there just for the asking. But sometimes I veer over into wanting to do more works because that’s what a good Christian would do. I know. It sounds terrible, but I go there. When I find myself doing projects that I am not called to and am pressed and uncomfortable because I am doing works for the wrong reason, I know I have lost sight of Grace. What a terrible loss. Resting in His Grace and living Grace-aware are two gifts He wants us to have. He shared the story of the thief on the cross who did no works, never attended church, and understood no theology to impress upon me that all He wants from me is that I love Him and have accepted His invitation to be His.
It is also shocking that Paul was given the gift of Grace. He had led an assault on Jesus followers that included beatings and murders. He was perhaps the most active of Jesus’ enemies during His lifetime. And Jesus loved Him and extended the invitation of His friendship and eternal life to this mortal enemy. The Lord desired so much that Paul night not live millennia in eternal damnation that He struck Him blind and sent an earthly messenger to tell Him God’s plan of salvation for sinners like Him. Some people just need a more dramatic event to get their attention.
I was one of those people. The person who first comes to mind when I think of people undeserving of Grace is I. I held the Lord at a safe distance throughout my teens, twenties, and thirties. My egotism in relegating Jesus to a place in my life where He could not be the head but just an accessory to my life makes me tremble with fear at my arrogance. This is the God of the universe, and when He communicated with me through earthly messengers and His Word, I said, “You can only come so far into my life.” Why did He want someone like that? Why did He keep trying for decades? I will never know, but my gratitude today is giving me one of those moments when I know I am covered in His Grace because I was rescued by an act that only Grace can explain. It took some difficult reality checks for Him to get my attention, but I finally slowed down enough to listen to what He was trying to say. Today, as I think of the thief, of Paul, and my own acceptance, I am truly resting in His Grace.
Who comes to mind when you think of someone only Grace could have saved? Who comes to mind when you think of someone unsaved that will take an act of Grace to redeem? Let’s pray that God uses earthly messengers, His Word, and the work of the Holy Spirit to make that person a trophy of Grace.