You’ve all heard someone say, “I don’t deserve this.” Or maybe, “What did I do to deserve this.” Most often those words are an indignant protest from someone who feels he or she is being treated unfairly. I am reminded of the story of “The Count of Monte Cristo.” That guy was framed and unjustly imprisoned and could rightfully ask, “What did I do to deserve this?” In the Genesis account of Joseph we see a man unfairly treated who had every right to say, “I don’t deserve this!” We’ve all heard those words and have probably said them ourselves.

Did you ever notice how seldom you hear those words from someone who has been blessed with great things and abundant wealth. Sure, there are some folks who say “I don’t deserve this” when they receive a great honor or blessing, but that is not the context in which we usually hear that phrase. Truth be told, most of us expect good things to happen in our lives. We expect to be rewarded for good behavior. We think that somehow the little bit of good we do should more than make up for any wrong we do.

That leads me to one more thought I’d like to share about the passage I have been reflecting on for the last several days:

Luke 7:1-10 1 When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum.  2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die.  3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant.  4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 6 So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.  7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you.  But say the word, and my servant will be healed.  8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, `Go,’ and he goes; and that one, `Come,’ and he comes.  I say to my servant, `Do this,’ and he does it.” 9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

Did you notice how the Jews spoke about the centurion in this passage: This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue. That attitude of the Jews was “He’s earned it!” And that is the way we often look at ourselves. I’ve tried hard. I’ve lived a good life. I deserve good things! But the centurion had a much different opinion of himself. He said to Jesus, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That was an honest opinion of his standing before God.

In Galatians, Paul was trying to correct some false teachings, one of which was the age-old heresy that people can justify themselves before God by keeping rules, such as the laws of Moses. Paul condemned this as being contrary to the Gospel message. We are all totally dependent on God’s mercy. It is terribly presumptuous to imagine that you deserve anything good from God.

And yet the Gospel message continues to be corrupted into something that tells people following rules makes them right with God. All around us people today are hearing that false teaching or “gospel that is no gospel.” People are accepting that message because they want to feel that they have earned or deserved God’s favor. But it is not true.

Think of it this way. What have you ever done that would make you deserving of someone dying in your place? Have you ever done anything to earn the sacrifice and passion of Jesus? There is no ritual, no rule, no doctrine, no practice, no piety, no wealth, no power, no authority, no words, no deeds that we could do or say or follow that would make you deserving of the sacrifice and suffering Jesus went through for you. He did it because He loves you. He did it to save you, because you can’t save yourself. He did it, and God gives His payment to you freely through faith. Even that faith is His gift to you.

We all mess up – regularly! It is good that we don’t get what we deserve. God gives us what we don’t deserve: forgiveness, life and salvation, all for Jesus’ sake.