When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.
Romans 5:6-11

Dear God, when I read this passage this morning it made me think of a Phillips, Craig & Dean song “Mercy Came Running.” It also made me think of the “Thank You/F*** You” post I did a few weeks ago. “Utterly helpless.” I really am. I’m just utterly helpless. I cannot fix my sin. I cannot reconcile myself with you. I cannot do anything to reconcile myself to the people I’ve harmed and offended. I need your mercy. I need their mercy. I am helpless.

But “since [I] have been made right in [your] sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly same me from [your] condemnation.” So what is my responsibility now? What am I to do with this amazing gift? Whom shall I love. How shall I love them.

Right now, my wife and I are going to spend the evening with some people we don’t know well. I pray that you will use this evening to glorify your name through us. Glorify your name to us through them as well. I want to be your servant tonight. I want to be very good at being my wife’s husband and being your ambassador. I am sure our hosts want the same. I am sure they want to be your ambassadors as well. Let this be an evening of iron sharpening iron. Let it be an evening of your glory being shone through our weaknesses. Through our sin and your mercy and grace.

I pray all of this through the blessed, holy, taintless blood of Jesus,

Amen