To Save My Self-Esteem?

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved my self-esteem.  

The above words were recently spoken by my son, referencing our modern-day approach to God’s mercy. Sadly, Joshua’s rendition of the well-known hymn seems more in keeping with how most of us view grace. 

We make it more about us as the recipient than Jesus as the lavish Supplier.

Preferring to omit John Newton’s assessment of us as wretches, we downplay our depravity and simultaneously downplay Christ’s sacrifice for us while we were yet sinners. After all, enemies of the Cross is not a title most of us care to embrace. How about we skip over that part and only recall the friends of God rendition? 

But living without remembrance is hazardous to the soul. It can make my love grow stale and dim the gratitude I should express daily for my salvation. 

As author Ruth Chou Simons writes, “Friend, what you and I need is not greater self-worth; we need to be overwhelmed by the worthiness of Christ.”

Jesus did not come to earth to remind me of what a great job I am doing without Him. He did not look upon the world’s sins and encourage us to keep up the good work — with a thumb’s up and a nod of, “You’ve got this!” 

Our Savior came on a rescue mission to save us from the mess we had made by going it alone. Our self-acclaimed righteousness was a dump — a filthy, stinking mass of refuse with no chance of becoming anything but worse. 

I sometimes prefer to gloss over the truth that I was a wretch without Him. After all, a despicable, miserable, horrible, disgraceful person does not exactly play into the character qualities that add much to my self-esteem. But apart from Jesus, there is nothing worthy about me. I am a sinful person bound for utter despair with a hopeless future. 

Enter Jesus, the epitome of Pure and Holy, who chose to come to the likes of me. Instead of recoiling from the stench of my sin, He waded right into it, embracing the very thing He abhorred to free my soul. 

The One who knew no sin became sin for us so that in HIM we might become the righteousness of God. His holiness absorbed the worst of us in a horrifying and torturous death. 

Me – vile, undeserving, wretched me. 
This is who and what grace came to save. 
Not my self-esteem, so I can feel good about my character and qualities. 
Not my self-love, so I can promote and regale my virtues.
Not my self-confidence to trust in my own abilities and thrive in self-reliance.
And certainly not my selfishness. 

Instead, Jesus pointed out my utter hopelessness and lack. And when I see the filth of my best stretched alongside His pristine holiness, I realize the depth of my need. 

That’s why the sound of grace is so amazing — that HE would come to seek and save a wretch like me.

So let’s be done with the self-esteem and live as one wholly dependent upon His mercy, a mercy needed and granted again and again. Let’s celebrate His grace that makes all things new. 

Not so we can look in the mirror and feel good about ourselves. But so we can live the song of Amazing Grace, lifting heads and hearts in worship to the One who is worthy of praise as we declare, “All glory to the King of kings!” 

Indeed, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. 

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We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 
— 2 Corinthians 5:20b-21

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 
— Romans 5:8