Daily Devotions
Feeling Unworthy? That's Good!
Reading for July 7th: Psalms 51-57
For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Psalm 51:16-17
If someone told you they felt unworthy before God, what would you say to them?
You might try to talk them out of it. Guilt is a bad thing, right? Oh yeah, sin is bad, but we tend to go overboard over it. We should be more affirming. We should nurture self-worth.
What would Jesus say to someone who felt unworthy?
In Luke 5 we read this: "But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, 'Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.'" (v. 8) What did Jesus say to Simon? Did He see Peter's perceived unworthiness as a negative?
NO! Unworthiness was not a hindrance. It was exactly what Jesus was looking for. He can work with unworthiness.
In Luke 7 we read this: "When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, 'Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof.'" (v. 6) What did Jesus say to this? Did He see this as a bad thing?
NO! He commended the centurion for his faith(v. 9). It was exactly what Jesus was looking for. He can work with unworthiness.
Then we have the Prodigal Son who comes home to his father and says, "I am no longer worthy to be called your son," (Lk 15:21) to which his father responds by taking him back, not as a servant, but as a son. (See also Lk 17:10; 18:13) Is guilt good? YES! Is a sense of unworthiness a good thing? ABSOLUTELY!
God doesn't delight in sacrifice. How can we pay for our sins? It is our pride that tells us we must become worthy of God's love by doing something great to earn it. What God wants is a broken spirit; an humble heart that falls down at His feet and cries, "Have mercy on me, O Lord!"
Father, we are so unworthy! We come with nothing in our hands. All we offer is our broken heart. Our only plea is the blood of Jesus. Be merciful and forgive us our sin.
