Empty My Hands.

I just read a friend's blog and it really struck me hard. I'd like to share with you a portion of his post below:


Oh, so many times have I heard this, and have also said this myself (I'm paraphrasing), "The gospel is God's love for us. We are separated from God. God sent his only son to live a perfect life, and pay our penalty all for his love for US! And now we can enter into his presence freely, and WE can enter heaven! Oh, how he loves us!" Is this the point of the gospel? Are we the object of Christianity? No wonder when Americans look for a church to attend, the look into how they can be catered. 
The object of BIBLICAL Christianity is "God loves me SO that I might make him, his ways, his salvation, his glory and his greatness KNOWN." God is the center of Christianity. As David Platt puts it, "We are not the end of the gospel, God is."
God loves us for his sake, not because we're something good, or we did something to please his eye, but completely and solely to glorify himself. Yes, God does love us, and yes God did send his only son, Jesus, to come die for us, but WE are not the center. We are not the purpose of the gospel... My Father is.


A line from a song keeps ringing in my head this morning. "When I lose my way, when I forget my name; remind me who I am." 


I am a Christian.


I am redeemed.


I have hope. 


I have purpose.


I belong to Him.


I am indebted to Him.


I owe Him my life.


I owe Him my entire heart.


I owe Him all my worship.


All my fears.


Or doubts.


Or frailty.


He deserves it all. 


He owns it all.


Purpose~


"Blessed be the God and Father or our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, to not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct . . . conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of your who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God." {1 Peter 1:3,13-21}


Thanks, Lord.