I was called to jury duty a few years ago. I remember that (as most people I know) I did not want to waste a day or two sitting in a courtroom. At the time, I was working as we raised support to become missionaries. I told my boss that I had to report for jury duty, and I told him that I hoped I would not be called. He looked at me and said, “Bracelin, you’re the guy the will call.” I entered a room of about seventy people, of which they would choose twelve. I thought for sure, there was no way I would be picked. But you know what happened already … I was chosen! I thought … “Why me?”
Today I was reading Psalm 144 and saw these verses: “Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me. LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! Or the sons of man, that thou makest account of him” (Psalm 144:1-3)! Why me? Why would a God of such grandeur and strength take even a moment to think about me?
On top of that thought, why would this perfect, holy, righteous, and incredible God send His one and only Son to die for my filthy sins? I am sorry, but I cannot understand why He chose to love me in the first place! I know who I am, and I know that on my best day, I am nothing more than a filthy sinner in need of the mercy and grace of God! Why would He love me so much? Why would He value a relationship with me so highly that He would sacrifice His own Son to buy my soul back from the pit of Hell?
I don’t believe I will ever be able to explain the reason for this, but I will tell you one thing … I am glad it is true! He reached down to me when I was headed in the opposite direction of the image of God He had placed within me. I was going wrong at every turn, and was not even aware that I was offending a holy God. But, He knew me before the foundations of the earth were ever spoken into existence. He not only knew me, but He already had decided on the course of action that would lead His Son to the cross on my behalf! He knew the suffering of the cross. He knew the total humiliation that my sin demanded. He knew all this, and He came anyway! Amazing grace!
All I can say in closing today is that if He loved me this much, the least I can do is love Him back with all my life! He chose me, and now I choose to live for Him out of the sense of overwhelming gratefulness. He has done for me what I could never do for myself. I will love Him all my days!