Unworthy but needy

If we pay attention to those around us, we may hear comments.

"I feel so unworthy."

"I didn't get that job. Nobody wants me."

We may also hear the opposite.

"I deserved that raise. I'm the best and they know it!"

"Watch how far I'll go. Look out world!"

Usually, our lives and attitudes fall somewhere in-between these extremes.

At times we may believe that we're unworthy of praise or promotion.

Sometimes we may succeed and feel pretty good about ourselves.

Whatever we believe or feel, doesn't God the Father know our hearts? Hebrews 4:12

Even if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things. 1 John 3:20

HUMILITY or PRIDE

Genuine humility seems hard to find.

Think about false or fake humility.

"Oh, it was nothing. You know, it was a team effort."

Does that person really believe that? 

Or is it fake and just for show to try to look humble?

Does the Lord need to peel and prune layers of pride from us? John 15:2 

How many would He need to remove before we could let our light shine so that He is glorified through our good works? Matthew 5:16

Pride is one of those traits that He hates. Proverbs 6:16-19

Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders.

And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

"God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5

We think that we're worthy of this or that when pride lives large in us.

Pride can keep us from receiving His salvation as a little child, so that we don't enter His kingdom. 

"Truly I [Jesus] tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Mark 10:15

Pride can keep us from accepting that the Lord Jesus Christ and His righteousness is greater John 14:6; 16:8-10; 1 Corinthians 1:30-31 than that of religious Jews who kept the Law of Moses, so that we don't enter His kingdom. 

"For I [Jesus] tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:20; 1 Corinthians 1:30-31; 2 Corinthians 5:21

Pride can keep us from believing that we must be born again spiritually as Jesus said, so that we don't enter His kingdom. 

Jesus replied, "Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." John 3:3

UNWORTHY 

The Bible has instances where people felt unworthy to receive (or having received) blessings of salvation from the Lord.

Here are a few.

When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion [leader of soldiers] came and pleaded with Him,

"Lord, my servant lies at home, paralyzed and in terrible agony."

"I will go and heal him," Jesus replied.

The centurion answered, "Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under my roof.

But just say the word, and my servant will be healed." Matthew 8:5-8

The man felt unworthy but had a need.

Jesus healed his servant. Matthew 8:13

Paul believed that he wasn't worthy to be called an apostle [a sent one by the Lord]. 2 Corinthians 12:12

For I am the least of the apostles and am unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 1 Corinthians 15:9

Paul's past life and ours, too, may influence how we see ourselves.

I [Paul] was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy. 1 Timothy 1:13

Paul thought of himself as less than the least of the Lord's people Ephesians 3:8 and the worst of sinners. 1 Timothy 1:15

A low self image can affect us.

But haven't we ALL sinned and fall short of the glory of God? Romans 3:23; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Didn't the Lord Jesus Christ die for the ungodly Romans 5:6 and was raised from the dead for our justification? [to be just as if we hadn't sinned] Romans 4:25

So, we qualify for His salvation.

We are worthy to be saved because we need Him.

Paul wrote,

And the grace of our Lord overflowed to me [and us], along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 1:14

The Father and the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ, are worthy. Revelation 4:9-11; 5:9-14

Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified you [believers in Jesus Romans 3:22-26 ] to share in the inheritance of the saints [Lord's people] in the light. Colossians 1:12

SINNERS ARE WORTHY TO BE SAVED

Jesus came NOT to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.

On hearing this, Jesus told them,

"It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Mark 2:17

The Lord was accused of bad behavior and getting together with sinners.

"For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon!'

The Son of Man [Jesus] came eating and drinking, and you say,

'Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'" Luke 7:33-34

When Jesus came to that place, He looked up and said, 

"Zacchaeus, hurry down, for I must stay at your house today."

So Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed Him joyfully.

And all who saw this began to grumble, saying, "He has gone to be the guest of a sinful man!"

But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord,

"Look, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay it fourfold."

Jesus said to him,

"Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham.

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." Luke 19:5-10

When the Pharisee [a certain kind of religious Jew] who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself,

"If this man were a prophet, He would know who this is and what kind of woman is touching Him—for she is a sinner!" Luke 7:39

Jesus said to the man,

"Therefore I tell you, because her many sins have been forgiven, she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." Luke 7:47-48

This woman probably felt unworthy, which is why she stood at Jesus' feet and wept. Luke 7:38

But she had a need and therefore to Jesus, she was worthy to be saved.

And Jesus told the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Luke 7:50

HE HAS MADE YOU WORTHY

If the Lord Jesus Christ has become your Savior John 4:39-42; 1 Timothy 2:3; Titus 3:4-7; 2 Peter 1:1 

so that you are a new creation in Him, John 3:3-7; 16-17; 2 Corinthians 5:17 

He is your spiritual life. Colossians 3:4

Believers no longer trust in their works because it's by His grace, undeserved favor, that they are saved. Acts 15:11; Ephesians 2:4-10

They should NO LONGER think,

"I thank God that I'm not like other people—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like that person over there. 

I go without food twice every week and pay 10 percent of all that I get." Luke 18:11-12

They believe what Jesus taught,

"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18:14

They believe that they're accepted by God the Father through Him. [Jesus] Ephesians 1:4-8

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1

Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God Who justifies.

Who is there to condemn us?

For Christ Jesus, Who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God—and He is interceding for us. Romans 8:33-34

We can agree that the mercy and grace given to Paul is ours also.

"By the grace of God, I [Paul and put your name in here] am what I am." 1 Corinthians 15:10

This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: 

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I [Paul] am the worst.

But for this very reason I was shown mercy, so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His perfect patience as an example to those [you and me and everyone else] who would believe in Him for eternal life. 1 Timothy 1:15-16

Your thoughts?

R. Jason