God is just in condemning us to the
cross, however God is also merciful. He didn’t want us to have to pay the
price for sin. He knew we couldn’t pay it, so he paid it for us. Worship
comes out of that – praise comes out of that. When one thinks of what we
deserve for what we did . . .
Jesus said for the joy set before him, he endured the cross and despised
the shame – He didn’t do it because he wanted to bear the cross, but he
did it because he wanted to get a relationship with you back. He saw the
joy, the glory of the Father in the plan of redemption – He said “I’ll do
it. Where do I sign?”
That’s the most awesome thing. After you really get a hold of
righteousness, then holiness begins to make sense. Jesus died so that I
wouldn’t have to pay the penalty for that junk, so I want it out of my
life. The thing that sent him to the cross, I want to throw that stuff
out, because I want more of him. In his presence is the fullness of joy,
so I don’t want the old habits, the old thinking, the old attitudes,
because all they ever brought me was death. The payment for those things
is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Then godliness makes sense.
After I’m saved, I am always standing in front of God, whether I feel it
or not. I am right there. And he’s got his eye on me. Praise God he’s got
his eye on me. Sometimes I don’t have both eyes on me, but the Lord has
his eye on me – He’s watching me. What ought I to do, knowing I’m standing
in the presence of God? Salvation is the most awesome thing ever! The fact
that we could have the righteousness, the right to stand in front of God
as if none of that sin ever happened. It means I seek holiness, I seek
peace. This is my offering to God for what he did for me.
That’s why forgiveness is easy. It’s the least I could do for what he did
for me, because he didn’t have to. I was bound for the cross – I had to go
to the cross. The God I serve, the God I love, the God that gets me up in
the morning, and lays me down to sleep, that preserves me while I’m
asleep, and is there with me every moment, he said “I’m not gonna let you
do it. I’m gonna do it myself.” And he says “You know what, I want your
personality, but I know that you cannot handle character, so I’m gonna
come down and show you how to live, and be your example. I’m not just
gonna tell you, I’m gonna show you. I’m gonna be the word – I’m not just
gonna give you a word, but I’m gonna be the word. This is where praise
bubbles up. When you think of what he did. Not because he had to, but
because he wanted to. This is where worship comes from.
