The Gospel’s Fair Exchange

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Mar 7, 2016 1451

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not depend on your own understanding (Prov.3:5).

There are so many things in life that can make us miserable and that complicate life. Unfortunately and far too often, many things sneak under our radar of vigilance because they appear to be so much fun for a while. They beckon and call and appeal to our senses and confound our wisdom.

The Bible has a lot to say on just how deceptive our own understanding can be. In the book of Proverbs we are reminded: There is a pathway that seems right to a man, but in the end it’s a road to death. (Prov.14-2).

On the other hand, our text for today reminds us to trust in the Lord, and not to depend on our own so-called wisdom. This verse offers a cure for our misguided self-reliance – it’s trusting in God.

There is an incredibly significant connection between knowing the true state of our heart and our preparedness to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. The heart is desperately corrupt and wicked and ever so incurably sick. David thought he knew his own heart and followed its whispers and shouts and often landed himself, his family and his kingdom into perilous danger, misery and sadness.

The apostle Peter also thought he knew his heart and shed bitter tears of repentance. Abraham, Jacob, Noah and many other characters in the Bible followed their own wisdom and understanding and paid a high price for doing so.

Do I really believe what God tells me about my heart? Left to my own devices, am I really that sick and corrupt? It’s a hard message to swallow and our deceitful pride bucks against it at every turn. Is it any wonder that the gospel of Jesus Christ, more often than not falls on deaf ears and insensitive hearts?

According to Jesus, blessings are reserved for the meek and the humble of heart, for those who come with nothing other than their nakedness and their gratitude that in Jesus alone they have their all.

What a paradox of the gospel: when I am weak, I am strong!. A totally unfair exchange: my weakness for His strength, so that grace may abound.