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An Unworthy Servant of A Worthy Savior

Scripture: Job 32, Luke 17, 2 Corinthians 2.

Gospel summary: For God not to punish sinners in hell is mercy. For God to redeem sinners at the cost of his Son's lifeblood is grace upon grace. Because of God's amazing grace to us in Christ, we ought to humbly serve him with grateful hearts that feel unworthy of any reward whatsoever, since we already have received the greatest reward possible.

A prayer: Father in heaven, glory to your great name! The fact that you allow my voice to reach into your holy heavens at all is nothing short of lavish grace. I am the lowest sinner worthy of the deepest pit of hell and yet you have poured out on me the fragrance of Christ and have clothed me in his righteousness and adopted me into your loving family. There is no greater grace that can be given than that which you have given me in Christ. He smelled the stench of death and your holy wrath for my sins so that I could smell the fragrance of your forgiveness and unending favor. Because of Jesus, my words fall on your ears like the sound of a beloved child's voice to it's happy father. For this grace, I am eternally grateful. Help me to see the folly of withholding forgiveness from others when you've granted it to me at so great a cost. Help me to repent of the often grumbly, discontented, and selfish attitude that I let pervade in my life. When the vilest offender is crowned with a golden crown and seated at the most honored place at the table and served as though he were a king, it is the epitome of wickedness that he not give heartfelt thanks, yet I do it every day. Give me grace to live each day knowing that I've been given the smile of heaven so that I might learn to smile in my heart no matter how my flesh may feel. I am graced beyond words and so help me worship beyond mere words, but with my whole heart and life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Key verse: "So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’ ” -Luke 17:10

Hymn: "Cleansing for Me" by Herbert Booth

Stanzas:
Lord, thro' the Blood of the Lamb that was slain
Cleansing for me, cleansing for me!
From all the guilt of my sins now I claim
Cleansing from Thee, cleansing from Thee.
Sinful and black tho' the past may have been,
Many the crushing defeats I have seen,
Yet on Thy promise, O Lord, now I lean:
Cleansing for me, for me!

From all the sins over which I have wept
Cleansing for me, cleansing for me!
Far, far away, by the Blood-- current swept;
Cleansing for me, cleansing for me!
Jesus, Thy promise I dare to believe,
And as I come Thou dost now me receive,
That over sin I may never more grieve:
Cleansing for me, for me!

From all the doubts that have filled me with gloom
Cleansing for me, cleansing for me!
From all the fears that would point me to doom
Cleansing for me, cleansing for me!
Jesus, altho' I may not understand,
In child-like faith now I put forth my hand,
And thro' Thy Word and Thy grace I shall stand,
Cleansed by Thee, by Thee.

From all the care of what men think or say
Cleansing for me, cleansing for me!
From ever fearing to speak, sing, or pray
Cleansing for me, cleansing for me!
Lord, in Thy love and Thy pow'r make me strong,
That all may know that to Thee I belong;
When I am tempted, let this be my song:
Cleansing for me, for me!

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