The more we know someone the greater the potential to be critical. That's the risk of relationships since we are all imperfect. In fact, the "watershed" moment in a relationship is when faults and flaws are the clearest and we must decide whether we can accept and tolerate them or distance our self from that individual. Grace leads to sympathetic understanding and tolerance.
"the LORD said to Himself, "I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done. While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, And cold and heat, And summer and winter, And day and night Shall not cease." (Genesis 8:21-22)
At first glance God's logic seems flawed: "I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth". If you and I were the Almighty we would likely instead have said, "I WILL curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth". Sin and disobedience demands punishment. Period. No exceptions. Cross the line, pay the price.
In the face of God's expected judgment we are instead surprised by His grace. It is literally BECAUSE of our sinful tendency that He extends mercy.
"The LORD is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him." (Psalm 103:8-13)
"He Himself knows our frame" (Psalm 103:14). He is intuitively insightful into our sinful nature and, rather than rejecting us, He is sympathetically accepting and forgiving. If that does not leave you in awe, nothing will.
God's mercy is powerful motivation for loving obedience. In the full face of His grace, can we do any less than seek His Kingdom and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven? Does not the vastness of His grace move us to extend grace to those we are in conflict with or who are unlovely?
That which we believe in God's word is fully validated when we operate and live in His incredible grace. As His grace has freely flowed down to us, may it freely flow from us to all we encounter today.
Steve
"the LORD said to Himself, "I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done. While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, And cold and heat, And summer and winter, And day and night Shall not cease." (Genesis 8:21-22)
At first glance God's logic seems flawed: "I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth". If you and I were the Almighty we would likely instead have said, "I WILL curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth". Sin and disobedience demands punishment. Period. No exceptions. Cross the line, pay the price.
In the face of God's expected judgment we are instead surprised by His grace. It is literally BECAUSE of our sinful tendency that He extends mercy.
"The LORD is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him." (Psalm 103:8-13)
"He Himself knows our frame" (Psalm 103:14). He is intuitively insightful into our sinful nature and, rather than rejecting us, He is sympathetically accepting and forgiving. If that does not leave you in awe, nothing will.
God's mercy is powerful motivation for loving obedience. In the full face of His grace, can we do any less than seek His Kingdom and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven? Does not the vastness of His grace move us to extend grace to those we are in conflict with or who are unlovely?
That which we believe in God's word is fully validated when we operate and live in His incredible grace. As His grace has freely flowed down to us, may it freely flow from us to all we encounter today.
Steve
posted by steve @ 9:33 AM
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