Alva Review-Courier -

When bad things happen because of bad decisions we have made, we often begin to go down this path of self-destruction, by continuing to make bad decisions, thinking that we are not worthy of anything good. We may think that we don’t deserve anything good in our lives because we are feeling the guilt of making those bad decisions.

If we think about it, what do we really deserve in this life? None of us are really good, and that being according to Jesus, who said in the gospel of Mark 10:18, “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good – except God alone.”

Well, if no one is good, why even try? Because Christ Jesus makes us good through the salvation he brought with him! Listen to the example of Paul in I Timothy chapter one where he describes himself as the epitome of the worst sinner who was made good by Christ Jesus! I Timothy 1:15-16 says, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.”

If you think of yourself as unworthy, listen to Paul as he calls himself the worst of sinners, twice in this text. He thought of himself as not worthy to receive the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ, but God was using him as an example for those of us who think we’re not worthy! I don’t think any of us can outdo Paul in being unworthy as he describes the things that he was before Christ redeemed him.

Listen to him describe himself in I Timothy 1:13-14, which says, “Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.”

Paul was all of these things, as we remember in other New Testament scriptures where he was holding the coats of many at the stoning of Stephen, and in Acts 26:10, he admits to putting Christians in prison and contributing to their death by casting his vote on the Sanhedrin against them. But Paul was brought to Christ on the road to Damascus and was completely transformed into a servant and evangelist of the Lord Jesus Christ.

How can we be worthy? We can’t, but we can be made worthy, and be transformed by the Lord Jesus the Christ! Yes, we are wretched men and women, but thanks be to God for his amazing grace and mercy!! Another example of how we feel the same as Paul felt, is found in Romans 7:24-25, which says, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” And the congregation says, AMEN!

Let the reader be encouraged to stop feeling unworthy, and come to Christ for his magnificent gift of grace and mercy that covers any and all of the sin in our lives. Thanks be to God who delivers us all from our unworthy selves!

We invite you to join us at College Hill Church of Christ, 1102 College Blvd., every Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. for worship or follow us on Facebook at College Hill Church of Christ, Alva, as we stream our worship service every Sunday. We are a fellowship of believers that follow God’s Word and love all who worship with us!