God's Best

What do you want? What do you deserve? What do you expect?

The answers may not be the same. Depending on how you consider the questions, they shouldn’t be.

If you believe that what you deserve from God is judgment and punishment, then you consider yourself an unworthy sinner—even if you’ve been forgiven, pardoned by grace. But if you understand that once you accept his salvation, he adopts you, you know you are his child. You also learn that everything he has is yours; you’re a joint heir with Christ. As such, what you deserve is far different from what you once earned.

Furthermore, as a sinner, what you want from God is unattainable. Or so you think. And since you’re unredeemed you doubt you can experience God’s blessing. So you don’t expect it. But you should. And there’s a story in the Bible that illuminates this truth.

A woman, not a Jew, came to Jesus to ask for his help. Being a Greek, she wasn’t entitled to what Jesus termed the children’s bread. She answered that even dogs get fed crumbs. Now, that means neither that she saw herself as unworthy nor that she’d be content with less than what she came for. Jesus understood her intent and commended her. Because of her wisdom and her faith—that is, she expected his help—Jesus gave her what she asked for.

But how many times have you failed to ask? How many times have you expected only what you think you deserve. How many times have you walked away and didn’t get what you wanted?

Until you are pardoned—rescued from your sin, yourself, and your self—you get crumbs. Blessings, but not God’s best. Even when you don’t realize that and even though you may not be aware enough to acknowledge the truth, all that’s good in your life comes from God. You just can’t enjoy all the privileges of an heir, but he blesses you even though you’re not his.

But why would you be satisfied to lick crumbs from the floor when you could feast at his table?

That’s the question Mephibosheth had to answer. And when he did, he realized he could expect what he wanted and want what he expected—because he deserved it.


Want to learn more? Visit http://praisechapelkingman.podblaze.com to hear a sermon by Senior Pastor Howard Pennington or any of our pastors or guest speakers.