Ephesians 2:4-5

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”

Yesterday we were the walking dead…but today we are alive! What happened? Who brought us back and why? It was God, of course. In His mercy and with His love He brought us back from spiritual death. He helped us when we couldn’t help ourselves and as a result, we have been saved from the penalty of our sins.

Being the object of mercy, which is the outward manifestation of pity, is a deeply humbling thing. The definition of pity is “a sympathetic or kindly sorrow evoked by the suffering, distress, or misfortune of another, often leading one to give relief or aid or to show mercy.” We don’t like to consider ourselves as being in need of any kind of pity because it means we can’t help ourselves…and in the American context, that’s a particularly ugly notion.

This is the main reason most people reject the Gospel. Accepting it means acknowledging you have a problem you cannot solve and you need help. Being utterly helpless is not a state that any person would choose, but it’s the state that every one of us is in with respect to our sin and God’s righteousness. When God knocks on the door of your heart, it is your pride that stands in the way. Deal with your pride…and His grace will flood your heart.