Five Days of Encouragement From Saints of OldSample

Are you the worst sinner you know?

Perhaps you are immediately starting to name all the people you consider worse than you. When we compare ourselves to other people, we can pretend that we’re not too bad. But what about when we compare ourselves to Christ?

That’s what Catherine Parr, the sixth wife of King Henry VIII, did in her book, The Lamentations of a Sinner.

Comparing ourselves to Christ in this way might drive us to desperation as the extent of our sin is exposed. But when we look to Christ, we see, not only our model, but also our Savior. We see the one who came into the world to save sinners. Our sin may be great, but his mercy is greater.

"Shall I fall in desperation?

No, I will call upon Christ,

the Light of the world,

the Fountain of life,

the relief of all careful consciences,

the Peacemaker between God and man,

and the only health and comfort

of all true repentant sinners.

By his almighty power he can save me

and deliver me out of this miserable state.

For this is the life everlasting, O Lord,

to believe you to be the true God,

and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ.

By this faith I am assured,

and by this assurance I feel the forgiveness of my sins:

this is what gives me confidence,

this is what comforts me,

this is what quenches all despair."

-Catherine Parr (1512-1548)