God, who made all men, knows our limitations. While we humans desire to surpass our limits and often do the unthinkable even though we know they're wrong just to achieve what we aspire for, God Himself honoured our limitations by doing what we cannot do: save ourselves.
God's Love Honours Our Limitations
Psalm 103:13-14 tells us, "The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust."
God knows our weaknesses and limitations more than any person does. True enough, our limitations should be reasons for us to rely on Him. After all, He's the one who's all-powerful.
One of our limitations is that before Christ came, we had no power to say "no" to sin. We were helpless and unable to save ourselves. Paul explained in Romans 7 that without Christ we were slaves to sin, and that no matter what good we want to do, we will always find ourselves committing sin before God. (see Romans 7:18-25)
But God loved us so much that He sent His Son Jesus – the only way for us to be saved (see John 3:16). Man is unable to atone for his sins, much less earn a rightful place in God's Kingdom. God, however, is gracious and kind, and has shown His love for us "by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners" (Romans 5:8).
Christ Took On Our Limitations
In His great love, Christ Himself took on the form of a man so that He could save all men (see Hebrews 2:14-15). Having taken all of our weaknesses to the cross, He defeated that which no man could ever defeat – sin – and gave us the power to resist it. He enabled us to enjoy God's divine nature, and has given us the privilege of being God's adopted children. (see John 1:12; Ephesians 1:5)
In His love, Christ honoured our limitations. He knew no man could ever drink the cup He alone was meant to drink, but because of the joy that was set before Him, He did not waver in finishing the task that was entrusted to Him: the salvation of all who believe. (see Matthew 20:22; Hebrews 12:2)
What He Did Should Challenge Us
Now, in light of what Christ has done, we should be challenged to respond in kind. Sure, salvation is only by grace through faith, and no one could add to what Christ has accomplished for our souls. However, we must at least be challenged and motivated to honour His sacrifice.
Ephesians 5:25-26 tells us that Christ died "to make [us] holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God's word." We must at least honour that by doing our best to be holy, clean, and fully obedient to the Word of God.
In love, Christ honoured us by doing what we cannot do to save us. Will we honour Him by doing what we can do to follow Him?
