Don't Fall For It

On a Christian radio station the hosts were talking about motivational phrases that we need everyday. The host added one that I thought was quite misguided. The saying he thought that we should tell ourselves everyday was, “you are worthy.” At first it sounds great and uplifting and we need those uplifting things to keep ourselves going. But what he failed to do was to think about what that phrase really means and what it does to our motivations. If we are worthy then who or what else do we need other than to go and claim what we are worthy of? We don’t need Christ if we are worthy, we don’t need the Holy Spirit if we are worthy, we can just do what we need to do. 
Here is what I would propose instead, then I will explain it. “We are not worthy and God, the one who we are not worthy of, still chased us for an everlasting relationship because He loves us!” Once we understand the explanation we can make that shorter. 
Here is the reality. We are not worthy. It is not because I have done something that God wants, needs or is even pleased with. God chooses on His terms – everyone is unworthy and God saved us. Psalms 5 says, “evil cannot dwell with You… God hates evildoers… the boastful do not stand.” Isaiah 64:6 says even our righteous deeds are like filthy rags to God. Are you evil? “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10 + Psalms 53:3).
Humans are children of wrath but now – through Christ alone – are adopted as children of God. We are are heirs to the throne and co-heirs with Christ (Ephesians 2 + Romans 8). 
It is because we are not worthy that makes us more grateful of God’s grace in continuing to chase the creation that abandoned Him and wished to be free from the created order, that disobeyed and seeks what is evil. “While still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).