Trying to Be Something I'm Not

Justified. Just-as-if-I'd never sinned.

It's part and parcel of our salvation; God's grace bestows faith which begets repentance and this marvelous thing happens: I have been declared "just" in God's eyes as He reckons Christ's perfect righteousness to my account.

This is a miracle no less than the regeneration of my dead and stony heart. That the record book of my life, stained with the red ink of my sin, is declared not just balanced but "Paid in Full."

Isaac Watts rightly notes that "drops of grief can ne'er repay this debt of love I owe." Nor can any service I am able to render obligate God to me in any way.

Jesus paid it all and all I can do is be grateful. What can I say? Say "Thank you." And act like it. Am I grateful? You bet. Am I acting like it? Some days are better than others. Even in this, God the Spirit works alongside me, helping me to express my gratitude.

Which brings me to a conversation I once had with a friend of mine. I was trying to explain the struggle to overcome inclinations to behave badly and selfishly.

"So," she pounced, "then you're trying to be something you're not?"

"That's right." I exclaimed, "I'm trying to be like Jesus!"

Isn't that right?