There’s always something on my mind, but I only write down what I’m thinking a small percentage of the time. For humanity’s sake that is probably a good thing. Tonight is one of those nights, duh. The thing that has been swimming in the deep end of my brain is an issue of humility. It really bothers me for some reason whenever someone says, “But I’m a good person..” They’re usually indicating that they don’t deserve a certain pain they are experiencing and that it’s happening because of their moral character. I am really good at doing this and I just wanted to throw that out there. In fact, it makes me sick when I catch myself saying that. The reason it makes me sick is that I have no business saying that I am a good person. To me, it feels like I’m telling myself, God, or someone else that I’m better than other people and that I’m so good, that I should be excused from the suffering they endure.
This all reminds me of John 9 when the disciples are gathered around Jesus approaching a man who was born blind and they say, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind” (John 9:2)? They aren’t complaining about a situation they are in, but they mistakenly look down upon someone else. They give an assumption that sin caused this man to be born blind. However, that’s not the case at all because Jesus says immediately after their statement, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him” (John 9:3). Don’t you feel like the disciples must have caught onto something there? Like maybe, “We’re not so high and mighty after all?”
The death on the cross (that was followed by Jesus’ resurrection) granted us salvation and it also killed the “good works” mentality. Being a good person will not get you into heaven. Truth is, I am one hundred percent fine with that idea. You know why? I’m not a good person. I’m a thief, armed with a dagger. I’m a Pharisee pointing the blame. I am a great sinner. So, here it is: Following Jesus comes with a price (Luke 14:25-33). Jesus says we will have to endure struggles (John 16:33). We will mess up. It is not about what you or I deserve. Death is honestly what we deserve. If you feel that this is unfair, I would beg to differ because I don’t think it’s fair that a Father had to give His only Son to die on a cross for people that hated Him. Think about it..
Love you all!
Daniel =)