I AM CONFOUNDED WITH WONDER by
James Michael Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. Romans 5 verse 20 Dear Savior, in your sufferings
I not only see the infiniteness of sin, but also the infiniteness
of your love, so that though I have cause with myself to be
angry on account of sin, I need not despair. If the deservings
of my sinful folly is death, the merit of your sufferings
is life. If my sins mount up to heaven,
Your mercy is above the heavens. Though my sins reach to the very
throne to accuse me, There is one upon the throne who will
not condemn me. When I look to myself and see
my vileness and necessity, I am confounded with shame. But when
I look to You and see Your fullness and all sufficiency, I am confounded
with wonder. Am I weak? Jesus is my strength. Am I foolish? Jesus is my wisdom. Am I wicked? Jesus is my righteousness. Am I impure? Jesus is my sanctification. Am I in bondage? Jesus is my
complete redemption. Am I in misery? From Jesus tender
mercy flows. Am I deceitful? Jesus is holy
truth. In a word, am I enmity itself? Then Jesus is love itself, which
passes understanding. Mine is but the enmity of a creature,
but yours is the love of God, where sin abounded. Your grace
did much more abound. where misery has surrounded me,
Your mercy has crowned me. Sin is too strong for me, but
Your grace is too strong for sin. Why, then, am I so vexed
with fears, doubts, and unbelief? because I am sinful. On that
very account, Jesus, who knew no sin, was made sin, that I,
who knew no righteousness, might be made the righteousness of
God in Him. But I am a great sinner. But
Jesus is a Savior and a Great One. Where is boasting now? See, it is great mercy in God,
great merit in Christ, which saves a great sinner. Since rich
and free grace builds the temple of salvation, let it have all
the glory. But I fall often into the same
sin. that is my failing, over which
I ought to mourn, and by which I should be driven out of all
boasting in my own holiness, high attainments, and religious
duties, and cry with tears of holy joy, Grace, grace to him
who has laid the foundation, carries on the whole work of
redemption, and will with shouting bring forth the top stone. Now, Law, what have you to do
with me? Go to my surety, Jesus. O Curse, you have lighted on
his head That the blessing might rest on mine. Though once I dared
not lift my eyes heavenward For fear of divine wrath, Yet now
I may come boldly to the throne of grace And claim the blessings
of his purchase. Though my sin offends him, I
shall never sin away his love, nor his presence altogether,
for he shall come a second time to deliver me from all my inherent
sinfulness. Though my sin is my burden, it
shall not be my bane. Yet I shall never willingly let
the traitor rest in my bosom, Which would persuade my soul
into rebellion against my dearest lord and best friend. I may have
continual war with the invader, but shall obtain the victory
at last. Meanwhile, I will grieve more
for offending Him whose name is Love by my sin than for the
trials, afflictions, and chastisements which seize me because of my
sinfulness. Now, with the arms of my faith,
I clasp the promise, and Jesus in the promise. Here will I live,
and here will I die, blessing God, who causes me always to
triumph in Jesus Christ my Lord. This Puritan devotional has been
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