But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Luke 18:13
I received forgiveness of sins through the gospel in May of 2006. Until this time, I considered myself a Christian primarily based on my dramatic spiritual experience( the Pentecostal born-again phenomenal) back in October of 2001.
That born-again experience plus working hard everyday not to commit sin and confessing every night any known sin, that I have accidentally committed during the day; was what characterised my spiritual life!
I knew very well that Jesus died for me on the cross, but on the functional level, I can say without contradicting myself that I lived trying so hard not to disappoint God or to quickly say sorry/apologise every time I failed Him.
Until that moment in 2006, when it was revealed to me that Jesus Christ died to wash away ALL my sins and I am completely forgiven and righteous before God, not because of what I do or fail to do but only by that vicarious death of Jesus Christ on the cross on my behalf.
This was too good to be true and though I believed this at times, it took me two years to wrap my head around this truth and I remember it was in 2008 while reading the book of Romans (3:23-24) that my eyes were truly opened and the rest as they say is history.
Through this journey into the gospel, a lot of teachers, living and some dead have helped me understand more and more about the beauty of this glorious gospel.
Chief among them is none other than the German monk by the name Martin Luther. I will be speaking a lot about him on this blog but for today let it be known that he is someone I consider as my theological muse.
I beseech you in the name of Christ, to read the quote below, where he is speaking on prayer and if this doesn’t shake your spiritual foundation, I pray that the word(law) will continue doing it’s work on you🐒.
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“Some say, “I would feel better about God hearing my prayer if I were more worthy and lived a better life.” I simply answer: If you don’t want to pray before you feel that you are worthy or qualified, then you will never pray again.
Prayer must not be based on or depend on your personal worthiness or the quality of the prayer itself; rather, it must be based on the unchanging truth of God’s promise. If the prayer is based on itself or on anything else besides God’s promise, then it’s a false prayer that deceives you—even if your heart is breaking with intense devotion and you are weeping drops of blood.
We pray because we are unworthy to pray. Our prayers are heard precisely because we believe that we are unworthy. We become worthy to pray when we risk everything on God’s faithfulness alone. So go ahead and feel unworthy. But know in your heart that it’s a thousand times more important to honor God’s truthfulness. Yes, everything depends on this alone.
Don’t turn his faithful promise into a lie by your doubts. For your worthiness doesn’t help you, and neither does your unworthiness hinder you. A lack of faith is what condemns you, but confidence in God is what makes you worthy.”
~Martin Luther
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