A MOST common experience in the souls of God’s people, who are seeking but have not found rest in Christ, is the sense of their unworthiness. Yet, strange contradiction, with the sense of unworthiness is mingled a striving to be worthy! We read in the Scriptures of this struggle, the hatred of sin, yet no power to overcome; the effort to be good, yet, as the result, feeling worse and worse― “Oh! wretched man that I am!” is the burden of such souls. God delivers His dear people from these struggles; He shows that alone in Christ is peace and strength. In Him alone can we bear fruit, or be “good.”
A friend we knew was very much burdened with the sense of her utter unworthiness, yet for three or four years she sought to be worthy! But every effort made her feel herself to be like that of a sheep which has fallen into a morass, whose plungings only sink it deeper and deeper into its hopeless position.
And so it was; one day when alone with God, and passing through a great struggle of soul, it was as if God said, “Jesus only is worthy.” There and then the chains fell off! Efforts to be fit for God were cast aside, the prison of self-effort was left, and joy and peace in Christ was the immediate portion.
“Accepted in the Beloved” was a scripture that gave our friend great joy. Accepted, graced, taken into favor, in the Beloved One of God the Father! Taken into favor in Him! What a portion! Yet this marvelous portion is that of each and all of God’s people.
Consider the worthiness of the Beloved One of God the Father, search diligently the Scriptures concerning Him, and having by the Holy Spirit’s teaching filled your soul full of God’s thoughts which speak of Him, again and again read these words—In the Beloved! Accepted, taken into favor in the Beloved!