Do we get what we deserve?

It's easy to sit down and hear of a terrorist mastermind's death and quickly label it as "he got what he deserved." Just days before there was a little event called "The Royal Wedding" and we can say these two people "deserve each other." As I've mentioned in a previous post, Rob Bell wrote a book that created a firestorm of debate on whether or not a loving God could decide if people deserve to spend eternity in hell. Today, we define "deserve" as what we are entitled to, or what we have coming to us. The actual word originates from the Latin "to devote oneself to." More times than not, our lives become what we devote ourselves to.

If we believe that everyone deserves loves, then we, in turn, should devote ourselves to loving everyone. If we say that everyone deserves a second chance, we should devote ourselves to handing out second chances left and right. Jesus devoted himself to serving and loving others. He deserves to be loved by everyone. This kills me when I think about all the time I've spent serving myself because if this theory holds true, then I deserve to be alone. But here's the amazing part. I've been afforded grace beyond all of my selfishness that I don't receive what I deserve. Instead, I've come to know the redemption of my own wrongs and the restoration of hope for a better life. I've been given freedom and experience it daily through the people I love and that love me.

This liberation from what we actually deserve is not just for me but offered to each and every person. This includes tyrants, royalty, pastors, self proclaimed nerds and you. Whomever may be reading this, Jesus wants to give you what you don't deserve. A life where you can truly say, "I'm alive!" As long as we know that we are devoting ourselves to what is right, there is hope for us. It doesn't matter where you've been, what you have done. When we get what we deserve, or understand what we devote ourselves to, we can begin to change the world.