The Freedom of Self Forgetfulness

by Timothy J. Keller

if you try to put anything in the middle of the place that was originally made for God, it is going to be too small.

I can just imagine a box (my ego) and how our cultural/societal/family/self expectations and standards are being made to fit. A round peg in a square hole. All being shoved in this box and still visualizing vast and small rattling around in a space where God is supposed to live.

Paul is saying something astounding. ‘I don’t care what you think and I don’t care what I think.’

His ego is not puffed up, it is filled up.

He says that it is the Lord who judges him. It is only His opinion that counts.

Do you realize that it is only in the gospel of Jesus Christ that you get the verdict before the performance?

Paul is saying that in Christianity, the verdict leads to performance.

THIS. This was so profound for me and I’m going to keep it close to my heart always.

he is out of the courtroom, he is out of the trial. How? Because Jesus Christ went on trial instead. Jesus went into the courtroom. He was on trial. It was an unjust trial in a kangaroo court – but He did not complain. Like the lamb before the shearers, He was silent. He was struck, beaten, put to death. Why? As our substitute. He took the condemnation we deserve; He faced the trial that should be ours so that we do not have to face any more trials. So I simply need to ask God to accept me because of what the Lord Jesus has done. Then, the only person whose opinion counts looks at me and He finds me more valuable than all the jewels in the earth.