Astonished

I read this yesterday in Charles Spurgeon's All of Grace: 


"Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. It is a very surprising thing–a thing to be marveled at most of all by those who enjoy it. I know that it is to me even to this day the greatest wonder that I have ever heard of, that God should ever justify me. I feel myself to be a lump of unworthiness, a mass of corruption, and a heap of sin, apart from His almighty love. I know by a full assurance that I am justified by faith which is in Christ Jesus, and treated as if I had been perfectly just, and made an heir of God and a joint her with Christ; and yet by nature I must take my place among the most sinful. I, who am altogether undeserving, am treated as if I had always been godly, whereas for aforetime I was ungodly. Who can help being astonished at this? Gratitude for such favor stands dressed in robes of wonder."


Oh, what a wonder! What a wonder that GOD almighty, GOD the just, GOD everlasting would justify me who is most unworthy! Christian this is something to be marveled at daily, hourly, minute by minute. I love Spurgeon's description of himself "a lump of unworthiness, a mass of corruption, and a heap of sin." It's true of each of us apart from Christ's merciful love. Christian this is the hard work of following him to daily remind yourself of this tremendous gift of righteousness given you.


It strikes me that many who I know and love are daily attempting to justify themselves before GOD. That perhaps, daily, you wake and attempt to make yourself acceptable before GOD by being good, and avoiding evil, and loving your neighbor. Hoping against hope that it will be enough. These are good attempts, however, they are not able to justify us. That is why GOD himself does the difficult work of justifying us through the righteous blood of his Son, shed for you on the cross. 


So, christian, may you find daily astonishment at GOD's love for you! And those attempting to justify themselves, may you find rest in Christ's finished work for you, that you too can be astonished by his immense love for you.


But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5.8