In Deuteronomy 9:4-5, as God prepared His people to enter the Promised Land, He reminded them that they had not earned the right to that land. 

 

⁴“Do not say in your heart when the LORD your God has driven them out before you, ‘Because of my righteousness the LORD has brought me in to possess this land,’ but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is dispossessing them before you.  ⁵“It is not for your righteousness or for the uprightness of your heart that you are going to possess their land, but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD your God is driving them out before you, in order to confirm the oath which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

 

            Twice, God reminds His people that their righteousness has nothing to do with them taking the Promised Land.   Too often, I think that I have earned the favor I have in life.  The truth is, however, I haven’t earned anything.  What I have – family, friends, position, wealth, even life — is a gift from God.  At first, that thought wounds my pride.  But upon second thought, not earning my way to God’s favor is a freeing thought.  Instead of trying to reach a standard I can’t attain, I can throw myself on the grace of God.   Instead of being angry about what I don’t have, I can trust God’s goodness to provide me with what I need.   I pray we all grow in our understanding of God’s grace.

This entry was posted on Friday, February 19th, 2010 and is filed under Andy's Blog.