From New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp
“I wish I could say I always rest in God’s control, but there are times when I want to be in charge. I wish I could say there are never times when I am irritated or impatient, but I struggle with both on occasion. I wish I could say the worship of God rules my heart unchallenged, but the truth is that idolatry nips at me. I wish I could say I always rest in the righteousness of Christ, but there are times when I give way to the pride of parading my so-called righteousness before others. I wish I could say the great spiritual battle is over for me, but there is clear and regular evidence it is not.”
“All this means that I value justifying grace. I celebrate that, in Christ, God found a way to be “just and the justifier” (Rom. 3:26) of the ungodly. I am daily thankful for the perfect life of Jesus. I am thankful that he subjected himself to the temptations of this fallen world. I am thankful that on the cross he took my stripes and carried my guilt and shame. I am thankful that he took the father’s rejection. I am thankful that he burst out of that tomb, conquering death. I am thankful that his righteousness is attributed to my account. I am thankful that he fulfilled the law and satisfied the Father’s anger. I still celebrate the fact that I have been granted full, complete, and unending acceptance.”