Not What We Deserve (blog)

The best way, I've found, of figuring out what sins I need to repent of is to pay close attention to the things I complain about most in other people.  What do they do that infuriates me?I do all of the same things.Someone is probably infuriated with me right now in fact.  And rightly so!People of this world treat me the way I deserve to be treated, for the most part.  I know the cold shoulder, not just because I've worn it but because I've had it turned on me.But everything is different with our Lord."Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me." (Psalm 27:9)If we are really honest with ourselves (as we are trying once again to be right now in Lent) we know that we do not deserve anything from God, except His wrath and judgment.  His Word confirms this (Romans 1:18-3:20).  But God doesn't give us what we deserve (read on in Romans).In fact, He gives us what we do not deserve.Have you ever experienced God's good and gracious answer to prayer that you knew you didn't deserve?  How about that time that you knew what you really deserved for what you had done, and so you didn't bother to pray, but still you experienced His goodness, mercy and faithfulness?God doesn't treat us the way we deserve to be treated, that's what is so amazing about Him and about His love for us.  It's what Lent and the repenting is all about, what we are meant to discover in it all.  It's what we rejoice in at Easter!God gave us what we did not deserve - His only Son Jesus Christ, who gave up His life on The Cross so that we, though undeserving, can be forgiven and have life, eternal life with Him!