Advent - Day 28
The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:6-12
One of the great misconceptions of the Bible is that God is harsh. That He punishes too severely. But that’s not how the Psalmist sees it.
Instead, God is slow to anger, abounding in love and He doesn’t treat people as their sins deserve. How do we know? The Psalmist is speaking after all. If God were to repay according to our iniquities - then that would be it. God’s righteous justice would demand immediate death and separation from Him.
Maybe you don’t think that’s right. Maybe you think your own natural goodness is worthy of God’s generosity. I’m tempted to think that way sometimes. But then I think of how different I am to Jesus. Jesus is everything people were meant to be.
I am nothing like Jesus. My thoughts, my feelings, my actions are all generally selfish. I don’t have compassion like I should. I don’t care like I should. I get cranky at little things. That’s just a little taste of my sins. What about yours.
Blaming God is something we have all done at one time or another. I think it’s a natural reaction to suffering and the sovereignty of God. But we must remind ourselves what we truly deserve for our sins.
At the same time, like the Psalmist, remember the riches of the grace of God. That in Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven. As far as the east is from the west, that’s how far he removed our transgressions from us. What a beautiful way of articulating His love and grace. That’s who God is.
For Today:
Pray:
and justice for all the oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:6-12
One of the great misconceptions of the Bible is that God is harsh. That He punishes too severely. But that’s not how the Psalmist sees it.
Instead, God is slow to anger, abounding in love and He doesn’t treat people as their sins deserve. How do we know? The Psalmist is speaking after all. If God were to repay according to our iniquities - then that would be it. God’s righteous justice would demand immediate death and separation from Him.
Maybe you don’t think that’s right. Maybe you think your own natural goodness is worthy of God’s generosity. I’m tempted to think that way sometimes. But then I think of how different I am to Jesus. Jesus is everything people were meant to be.
I am nothing like Jesus. My thoughts, my feelings, my actions are all generally selfish. I don’t have compassion like I should. I don’t care like I should. I get cranky at little things. That’s just a little taste of my sins. What about yours.
Blaming God is something we have all done at one time or another. I think it’s a natural reaction to suffering and the sovereignty of God. But we must remind ourselves what we truly deserve for our sins.
At the same time, like the Psalmist, remember the riches of the grace of God. That in Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven. As far as the east is from the west, that’s how far he removed our transgressions from us. What a beautiful way of articulating His love and grace. That’s who God is.
For Today:
- Have you ever blamed God for things in life?
- What do you think you deserve from God?
- Reflect on His love and mercy.
Pray:
- Praise the Father that He is just, merciful and loving.
- Give thanks for Jesus Christ who satisfies the justice of God so that our sins can be forgiven.
- Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others see things rightly.
Posted in Advent
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