I Deserve to Die? Hmmm...I Deserve to Die!!

I was running late for a meeting last week at work when I nearly ran into a coworker.  I excused myself and asked how he was.  He answered "blessed."  That immediately brought to mind a quote Dave Ramsey has made famous "better than I deserve."  It was in those few moments that God put a thought in my mind/on my heart that I have been unable to get out for over a week.  So I will share it. 

I deserve to die.

"For the wages of sin is death..."(Romans 6:23)  I am a sinner.  I have lied.  I have cheated.  I have been unfaithful to God.  I have been selfish with my time and talents.  I have put things before God.

The second part of the verse says "...but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."  I can't go any further without sharing the plan of salvation...how you too can have eternal life and not pay for your sin:

Admit you are a sinner.
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23) "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" (Romans 5:12) "If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 1:10)

Be willing to turn from sin (repent).
Jesus said: "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:5)
"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:" (Acts 17:30)

Believe that Jesus Christ died for you, was buried, and rose from the dead.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners. Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Romans 10:9)

Through prayer, invite Jesus into your life to become your personal Saviour.
"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:10)
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)

What to pray:
Dear God, I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for my sin. I am willing to turn from sin. I now invite Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Saviour.

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" (John 1:12)
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)
WHAT IN THE WORLD DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH BEING A TYPE A MOTHER??!!

You see, I would lay my life down for my child.  I have never know a love like this.  My capacity to love was increased the minute I felt her move inside me, the moment I saw her face.  Remember earlier I said I am a sinner right?  I have squandered my talents and time.  I have doubted and questioned God.  I have sinned.  I have taken God's son and put him to the side time and time again.  Yet God let his son die for me.  Every time I think of that my mind goes to the song "amazing love how can it be that you my king would die for me?"  You see, I would die for my daughter, but there is no way I would let her die for you....for anyone.  I wouldn't allow her to sacrifice herself for the most honorable, honest, selfless person in the world much less for someone who is a sinner.  Imagine that you were God.  Someone dismissed your son; they denied him.  They broke his commandments...yet you let your son die for this person.

I am amazed by the love of God.  I have been guilty as a new mother or being resentful of the time I miss with my child by working.  I have complained about a million things.  So the next time someone asks me how I am, I am not sure how I will answer.  But I am sure that I will think...I deserve to die...but for the grace of God I live!