I am as You say I
am. I do not have any problem whatsoever agreeing with You on my
condition. I am filthy and corrupted. Over and over again I prove
that I can do nothing that is spiritually good for anything. You are
holy, and righteous and good. You are full of grace, mercy and
truth. You hate sin, are at war with the sinner, and Your judgement
has already been pronounced – GUILTY! There is none like You –
NONE! Every religion, every god, every ethic, every belief system –
you are found in none of these. These are empty. These are a
distraction - a wide road among many that is so easy to follow. Do I
honestly believe that if I do a thing, or don't do a thing, that this
somehow saves me from Your wrath? I can only run to You and throw
myself at Your feet knowing that only You can save me...from You –
Your full wrath poured out on me. What can I bring, apart from Your
enabling, that will make You find favor with me? There is nothing.
What can I do, apart from Your work in me, that would bring You
pleasure? There is nothing. Is not all of MY righteousness as
filthy rags? Or, as the original language puts it – used menstrual
cloths. I agree with You – this is the best that can be said about ALL of my righteousness.
Who will save me
from this body of death? Thanks be to Christ Jesus! Clothed in His
righteousness, You are the one who justifies the sinner. You do it.
Not I, the sinner. It is Your righteousness, not mine. I am the
slave in the slave market - completely bound, owned by sin and
utterly helpless. You purchased me. I am your slave, but what a
poor slave I am. It is unfathomable to me – You, my gracious Lord,
took the full wrath of God's anger against me. You took ALL of it in
my place and in exchange clothed me in Your righteousness. And then
the pronouncement - “Paid in Full!” You declared me righteous.
You did. I know I am not, but You declared it. All because You
saved me...from You.
From: a lowly slave,
with immense thankfulness, to his glorious Master.
