GRACE AND SELF-DENIAL

Beware the musings of your heart when it concludes, “I am alright. I’m not in need. Christ needn’t spend His grace on me.” The subtlety of self-deception makes us award ourselves whatever growth in godliness we’ve lived. We say that we resisted the temptation, achieved a victory, did our part. But here we tell profound untruth. Only “Christ in us” caused us to choose justice, or be merciful, or avoid the hurtful thing. Only Jesus merits favor. Only grace deserves applause. We are—at best—dull, tiny lamps in which the holy flame may burn. “Nottous,OLord, not to us, but to Your name give glory” (Psalm 115: 1). So stay in grace.