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What I Deserve

“Never settle for less than you deserve.”

That’s a profound, insightful statement, eh? I said it countless times in high school and early college days. Us Christians can live off of these catch phrases if we are not careful. We can set our standards based upon them. Especially the “follow your heart” and relationship driven statements.

What do we deserve? As Christian women and men, what do we deserve? What is less than we deserve? What makes us superior? Are others who have “sinned more” inferior to us? Are the ones with tattoos and messed up pasts undeserving of us?

Right. Because we deserve.

God desires to give us His best, but I never see in Scripture where He says we deserve anything. Ever. Deserving of death maybe. Of damnation. But praise God for His salvation, grace and mercy!

In what ways would we be settling? Over Christmas break, I was reading “Quest for Love” by Elisabeth Elliot. I was desperately searching for some encouragement when it came to my own love story. The man I fancy does not come from a “perfect past” and he is not what some of those closest to me would deem “the best.” Elisabeth Elliot has a chapter entitled, “Grace Greater Than All Our Sin.” I sat there for minutes… reading that chapter. Story after story of countless couples: one never messed up, the other had. Others opposed their relationship, but there was such love and forgiveness in their relationship, it was God written and it lasted.

Don’t excuse a person because they come from a screwed up past. God is not so weak—His power allows a person to overcome what they have been through. Don’t cheapen God’s grace as though it applies to a few. Don’t dismiss a human being because they do not measure up to your standards. God writes our stories, not mankind. Once you have TRULY given HIM the pen to your love life, He is allowed to work in ways you would never be able to comprehend.

Would you forgive the one God had for you if he/she had messed up?

Or would you dismiss them, because you deserve better?