Entitled.

In doing my Bible Study this last week, I read a paragraph that hit me between the eyes.  Ever have that happen to you?  Here it is:

Even though I may be growing up in Christ, my sin is also evolving.  I still have stuff to deal with, it’s just different than it used to be.  In maturity, sin can become less blatant, more hidden and even accepted in a weird way.

Is that speaking to anyone else out there?  As I prayed through to confession, I realized the sin of “entitlement” screaming out at me.  Wait . . . entitlement?  Entitlement to what?

Entitlement to everything – to a nice home, a good job.  Entitlement to good health and financial security.  Entitlement to grace.  As I thought about it more, I realized I have felt “entitled” for a long, long time.

It’s a pride thing, really.  I deserve it – the good job, the nice home, etc.  AND I deserve the grace.   Don’t I confess daily?  How about all my works (??) – I know Jesus - I go to church.  Yep, I’m entitled.

Wikipedia says "entitled":

refers to a notion or belief that one (or oneself) is deserving of some particular reward or benefit

 We Americans were born “entitled”, weren’t we?  I hope I’m not rationalizing here, but seriously, we were.  We raise our children to KNOW that they are entitled.  But entitled to grace is an entirely different matter.  Its spiritual entitlement.

Now to clarify a few things:

We ARE God’s chosen, His redeemed

But we are not entitled to a thing.  NOT ONE THING.  Paul wrote to the Romans, in the second Chapter: 

But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when His righteous judgment will be revealed.  God will give to each person according to what he has done.

The Psalms tell us our hearts are deceitful.  The one thing we do deserve is death.  At least that’s what I deserve.  Death.  Hell. Damnation.  Am I making anyone feel good out there?  Cause I’m feeling pretty rotten!  Wait - there's HOPE! 

The Book of Ephesians says:

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms, in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages, He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith. (Ephesians 2) 

And in James:

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1)

So even through all my sin, even my hidden sins of entitlement and pride, God expresses kindness to me.  He expresses kindness to you.

Grace – the incomparable riches of G-R-A-C-E.

Grace is undeserved.  It’s unmerited.  It’s free.  There’s no charge for it – nada.

But Someone did pay the price.   He paid it for me and He paid it for you.

Help me to see, Lord Jesus,

the price you paid.