Our Response

How do we respond to God the Savior?

First, sometimes we take God's salvation for granted. We get too comfortable with it. So we also need to be challenged. The recognition that God has saved us - at such great expense and commitment - should humble us.

As Isaac Watts wrote, "When I survey the wondrous cross, On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my God! All the vain things that charm me most I sacrifice them to his blood."

If you need humility, one way to get it is to reflect on what it cost God to save you.

Because if you were a pretty good person, then why did God have to go to these great lengths to save you? Why weren't you helping him out? Couldn't you have chipped in a bit?

Wonder at God's salvation cultivates humility. And humility cultivates wonder at God's salvation.

Secondly, there's imitation.

There's a famous saying in the American South. Apparently, a preacher once said, "If the KJV was good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for me!"

Now, we know that Jesus didn't use the KJV, but I think the preacher's heart was in the right place.

As Jesus explains in Mark 8:

"Calling the crowd along with his disciples, he said to them, 'If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me and the gospel will save it. For what does it benefit someone to gain the whole world and yet lose his life? What can anyone give in exchange for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

If we understand the cross, then we will imitate Christ in this way. Paul writes in Ephesians 5, "Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children, and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God."

Just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, we are to love others by giving up our lives for them.

Peter has the same idea in 1 Peter 2:

"For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth; when he was insulted, he did not insult in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed."

It is the same logic. Christ's suffering healed us, freed us from sin, gave us an example, and empowered us to live holy and righteous lives. In love, we bear suffering to serve others.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 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.

God, assure our hearts that we are your beloved. Humble our pride. Empower us to love as you have loved us.

In Christ's name, Amen.

(Psalm 51)

Identify one person in your life you can sacrificially love this week. Take a concrete step to serve them as Christ served you.