How many of you remember Hercules the Disney movie from a few years back?
In it is a scene where Pain and Panic, Hades minions tell Hades, “We are worms, worthless worms.”
They are like we are when we come before God. And that is where Ezra is today, “O my God, I am too ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens.” We are too hung low in our state to look up to God to see where our help is, to look for the redeemer of the world to give you the mercy you do not deserve.
We as Lutherans are in that dichotomy of saint and sinner…
We live in the need for God but know we can not possibly come to, approach, or expect anything from God, because He would have to hate us because of all the sin we have committed and the lives we live. As Ezra says, “From the days of our ancestors to this day we have been deep in guilt, and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been handed over to the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to utter shame, as is now the case.” We do not deserve His favor, but He gives it to us, because He loves us.
So you are not a worm, and you do not deserve to stand before God, but He is giving you favor, and mercy, and grace. Because of who He is, not because of what you have done.
aSacredRebel 