Tuesday, May 24, 2005 AD From the Same Sermon I Listened to Yesterday
“We don’t like not being in control, and the Gospel reminds us profoundly that we are not in control. The Gospel tells us that God is God; He is the Creator; He is the new-Creator. And so, consequently, when we are confronted with the fact that we must be something that we are not, we have to turn to God and plead for mercy. When the law comes to us and confronts us with our duty to be something else, to be some other way, we recognize that this is not something we have any control over, and so we cry out to God for mercy. And that cry itself is an indicator that God has already shown mercy. For if God had not shown mercy, you wouldn’t even be crying out for mercy; you would still hate His sovereignty over all things.”
—Douglas Wilson, “Scriptural Roles of Wives,” somewhere around minute 8 of the MP3 (the online version, which is no longer online, not the for-sale version, which is still for sale, but on which this bit probably occurs a little earlier in the recording...clear as mud?)
That last bit, which I completely missed hearing yesterday, jumped out as a tremendous encouragement today. So often I see the slow progress of sanctification....or rather I don't see it, because it is so slow, and I think it isn't happening and I fall into doubt and despair. I need to remember that wanting mercy is a sign that I've already got it. I can't rest there, of course. I can't say, “Whew, I prayed my Kyrie eleisons for the day so I can quit working out my salvation with fear and trembling.” But I can, in another sense, restfully trust that God is indeed working in me to will and to work for His good pleasure.
(Somebody bookmark this post and throw it in my face next time I need it!) Posted by Valerie (Kyriosity) at 5/24/2005 12:30:00 PM
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