There’s a lot of talk about privilege these days. Most of the arguments stem from privileges no one controls, like what parents one was born to or the color of a person’s skin. Then there is the privilege of environment or condition; some accidental and others purposeful.
Either way, it’s a poor game of “king of the hill” where the perceived privileged are pushed off to tumble into the quagmire of confusion, and the “not-so-privileged” compete in a scramble of quasi-idol worship at the top of the victim pile.
The meaning of privilege has become contorted, distorted, and twisted, where everyone wants it and no one wants it.
/priv-uh-lij (noun) 1a. a right, immunity, or benefit enjoyed by a particular person or a restricted group of people beyond the advantages of most, 1b. the unearned and mostly unacknowledged societal advantage that a restricted group of people has over another group (Dictionary.com)
The worldly definitions of privilege are nothing I care to debate. They are superficial and ever-changing. Plus, I agree with what my stepmom used to say, “Life isn’t fair; get used to it.”
But there is a privilege we don’t talk about enough.
It’s a privilege available to anyone, anywhere, anytime.
It is the undeserved privilege of God’s grace.
Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege, where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. (Romans 5:2, NLT)
I love the word choice in the NLT version, and it smacked me in the face this morning.
UNDESERVED PRIVILEGE.
How do we access this undeserved privilege? Through faith in Jesus. Simple. Consistent. No questions, no obfuscation, no changing boundaries.
Faith = Undeserved Privilege
Undeserved Privilege = God’s grace
If you have faith in Christ, you stand in the most prominent place of privilege. Even those without faith can easily attain it by surrendering to Christ.
The fruits of this kind of privilege result in confidence and joy. Who doesn’t want that?
This kind of privilege makes the worldly privilege puzzle look like toddlers fighting over a cookie.
This privilege brings us to a place where we can bask in God’s glory.
God’s glory.
That is a privilege worth pursuing!