Morning By Morning #158

Behold, I am vile.

Job 40:4 KJV

From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

Poor, lost sinner, here is a cheerful thought for you! Do you think you cannot come to God because you are vile? You need to know there is not one saint on earth who has not been made to feel vile. If Job, Isaiah, and Paul were all obliged to say, “I am vile,” then will you, poor sinner, be ashamed to join in the same confession? If divine grace does not eradicate all sin from believers, how can you expect to do it yourself? And if God loves His people while they are still vile, do you really think your vileness will prevent Him from loving you?

Believe on Jesus, you outcast of the world’s society! Jesus calls you—and just as you are!

Not the righteous, not the righteous;

Sinners, Jesus came to call.

Joseph Hart, 1712 – 1768

Declare these words to Him this moment, “Lord Jesus, You died for sinners, and I am a sinner. Sprinkle me with Your blood.” If you confess your sin you will be pardoned. If you will say with all your heart, “‘I am vile,’ cleanse me,” you will be immediately clean. If the Holy Spirit will enable you to cry out from your heart:

Just as I am, without one plea

But that Thy blood was shed for me,

And that thou bidd’st me come to Thee,

O Lamb of God, I come!

Charlotte Elliott, 1789 – 1871

you will stand after this morning’s devotion with all your sins pardoned. Although you awoke this morning with every sin known to man upon your head, you will rest tonight “accepted in the beloved” (Eph. 1:6 KJV). Though you were once regarded with contempt and were clothed in rags of sin, you will be adorned in a “robe of righteousness” (Isa. 61:10) and will appear as bright as an angel. “For…now”—yes, now—”is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).

If you trust “God who justifies the wicked” (Rom. 4:5), “you are saved” (1 Cor. 15:2). Oh, may the Holy Spirit give you saving faith in Him who receives even the vilest of sinners!

From the pen of Jim Reimann:

So often the lost think they need to clean themselves up to come to Jesus. What they do not realize, however, is that they are powerless to do so. If that were possible, Christ’s death would have been in vain. He prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me” (Matt. 26:39). But, it was not possible. There was no other way. He had to die for us to be made clean.

My friend, remember: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). Notice He died “while we were still sinners,” not after we had forsaken all of our sins—something we are incapable of doing.

“Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions” (Eph. 2:4 – 5). Yes, “when we were dead.” And a dead man can do nothing—much less clean himself up!