From Attitude To Gratitude
by John Fischer (used by permission) www.purposedrivenlife.com
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A reader who e-mailed me her testimony kindly consented to let me use it in a devotional. I can’t help but think there’s something here for all of us to reflect on.
If there is any such thing as a “good” Christian, I was one—once. I accepted Jesus as my Savior at age seven, and spent all of my childhood and early adult life immersed in the “Christian” lifestyle. I attended church faithfully, served in the ministry, said and did all the ”right” things and stayed well away from all the “wrong” things.
I had it so “together,” in fact, that I felt a little smug as I observed all the people who didn’t. I made a big deal about how I didn’t drink because I was a Christian, how I didn’t smoke because I was a Christian, how I basically didn’t do anything because I was a Christian. Each time I’d share my “track record” (thinly disguised as a testimony), I’d feel like a shining example of a life lived for God.
The problem with not giving mercy to others is that you don’t get any, either. When you think in terms of earning the love of the God of the universe, nothing is ever enough. This, of course, was God’s point in giving us the law: so we’d know we couldn’t do it. So we’d know we needed a Savior.
It didn’t happen all at once, but gradually I realized that this “good girl” had completely missed the point. In my quest to please God, I’d taken credit for my own salvation. I’d become the very definition of self-righteousness. I’d avoided the most “visible” sins while harboring an abundance of secret ones in my heart and private life. I needed grace (undeserved, unearned favor). I needed a way to measure up. I needed a Savior, and it wasn’t me.
Having ultimately realized that even though I’m “saved,” I’m no more “good” than anybody else; I’ve stopped being mad at the world and started identifying with it. I know my own faults too well: I judge and criticize. I gossip. I yell at my kids. I overspend. I think unholy thoughts. I overeat. I ignore God when I need Him most. Honestly, sometimes I’m just grateful that He keeps me around!
I wonder what would happen if church became a transparent place where we openly shared our failures and deepest needs with each other. If we built fewer walls to insulate us from the bad stuff “out there” and built bridges to the “out there” instead.
I wonder what would happen if we realized that the one thing the whole universe has in common (“good Christians” included) is our desperate need for Jesus.
John Fischer is an author, speaker and song writer. For more of his writing,
visit www.purposedrivenlife.com
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Oh yes can I identify. I once was such a person who today has discovered how little I did know.
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I would like to purchased twenty copies of
“Beginning Your New Life!” This booklet was
publice: Copyright Campus Crusade for Christ, Inc.1977
When I recently had a very humbling experience I learned the same lesson. Although I thought I was a “good” christian, I messed up and needed grace and forgiveness. When I received grace and didn’t from others, I learned how important giving grace really was. As I was humbled I learned to stop judging and started to really learn to love people.
what a great testomonty thank you so much/
God bless
sharon
It’s Sunday Morning – Your reflection on self-righteounes is to the point. Thank you for sharing it with us – God bless your work – Kindly keep me in your prayers.
this was so good, i got my family to listen to it, thx!