“ . . . so that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:26)
“Just remember, it’s not about you.” Those were the last words I heard before I preached for the first time. A senior at Valparaiso University, I was about to deliver the homily at one of the daily chapel services. The chaplain assistant leading matins, who could probably see my nerves at work, leaned over and whispered, “Just remember, it’s not about you.”
There’s freedom in those words, whatever our walk of life: the freedom to let go of ourselves, even forget ourselves, and simply hand ourselves over to the task at hand. And according to the apostle Paul, it is this same freedom that stands behind salvation in Jesus Christ. Even there, it’s not about us: it’s about God demonstrating that He is just.
While that promise may irritate our old selves (they always like to be at the center of attention!), it makes God’s forgiveness of you even more true and certain. His decision to redeem, His sacrifice on the cross, and His proclamation of that redemption for you rest not on you, but entirely on Him who is eternal, the same “yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
LET US PRAY: Lord God of hosts, You have raised up preachers, teachers, and martyrs in every age to bear witness to You. We laud and magnify Your justice; we adore Your beloved Son; and we pray for Your continued grace upon our way; in Jesus’ name. Amen
Pastor Steven K. Gjerde
Zion, Wausau
