Archive for the ‘Goodness’ Category

TENDER MERCIES

Thursday, November 18th, 2010

Day 255

“I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion”
Exodus 33:19

An extraordinary characteristic of God our Father is His mercy. God is sovereign and in His sovereignty, He chooses according to the pleasure of His will. We, as his children, are not the only ones to receive His blessings and mercy. He pays the workers hired at the 11th hour the same as those who worked all day [Matthew 20:1-16]. He gives sunlight to everyone, regardless: the evil and good, and sends rain on the just and unjust [Matthew 5:45]. He even has mercy on those who commit murder.

Cain belonged to the evil one and his actions were evil and unacceptable to God. When he and his brother brought their sacrifices to God, Cain’s was rejected. Jealousy rose up in his heart that led to anger. Yet, God spoke tenderly to Cain, asking why he was angry? Why has your countenance fallen? Will you not be accepted if you do well? Cain sinned and God met him with graciousness and compassion.

Cain’s sin went from anger to hatred and ignoring God’s graciousness, his wickedness came to fullness. He killed his brother. God then cast him out and sentenced him to be a wanderer. Cain, in the midst of this great wickedness and judgment, says to God, “my punishment is greater than I can bear.” He does not repent, he has no remorse; yet he boldly complains to God. Cain’s sins were great and God had mercy, granting him his life.

How great Your mercy is O God! How tender you are to the just and unjust.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” Matthew 5:7

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THE GOD OF MUCH MORE – PART 2

Monday, November 8th, 2010

Day 245

“For, if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved in His life”
Romans 5:6-10

Our Father not only takes (saves) us out of the world He brings us into the kingdom, just as He took the Israelites out of Egypt and brought them to the promised land. It does not stop there. His love is a love of commitment. He not only had compassion on us in our captivity and bondage, realizing our weakness and powerlessness to do anything for ourselves, but He died for us to make the way for reconciliation. And, after bringing us in, He gives us “much more.”

Salvation is not a one-time act, but a continuation of “much more”, a daily saving through His resurrected life. Paul declares, “I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ—right up to the time of His return—developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you” [Philippians 1:6, Amplified].

We who were God’s enemies are now His friends. God, and God alone, did this for us. We are objects of His love, “Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us . . .” [Ephesians 2:4]. He not only looks upon as friends, but as His children, partakers of the divine nature.

Oh, glorious Father, how we thank You for Your love that we barely understand. Help us to know You more and more each day and the immense love with which You have loved us. We declare Your glory and goodness for Your grace and mercy has redeemed us. Amen.

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THE GOOD SHEPHERD

Tuesday, October 19th, 2010

Day 227

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” John 10:14

A child finds great security, comfort and rest in a loving parent. When the day comes to its end, they intimately rest in the parent’s bosom. The parent knows their child and everything about them. The child has no doubts. They draw on the parent’s strength, provision and care for their life. How much more so it is with the good Shepherd. He alone is the good shepherd. As used here, the word good is different and signifies One who lays down their life for the sheep. To be known by the Lord brings the greatest assurance a Christian may have. He does know us. He has known us before we were, and He knows our every thought and characteristics. He knows the very number of hairs on our head. He calls us, “My own.” The intimacy of the fellowship between our Lord and ourselves is patterned on His relationship with the Father–“I known My own and My own know Me, just as My Father knows Me, and I know the Father.” While much of the world lives a life that is hidden, broken and filled with emptiness, we have One who understands and knows us and with Whom we may find comfort and rest. It is He who cries out, “Come, Whoever is thirsty, let him come: and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life” [Revelation 22:17].

“The Lord is my shepherd,I shall lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters” Psalm 23:1-2

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DIVINE SCHEME

Friday, August 27th, 2010

Day 177

“My thoughts are completely different from yours,
My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine”
Isaiah 55:8

We like to have everything tied up neatly. Our doctrine, beliefs, liturgy, time, etc. Most of all, we like our understanding of God all wrapped up and packaged so as not to disturb us. Peter, James and John ran into this problem. He was transfigured before them by His face shining and His clothes becoming white as light. Then Moses and Elijah appeared talking with Jesus.

Peter immediately spoke to Jesus about putting up three tabernacles (shrines), one for each of them. Here they were witnessing a miraculous manifestation of Christ and the heavenlies and Peter wanted to capture it. But, God had another plan – and His voice came out of the cloud surrounding them saying, “This is My son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!” They were scared and fell facedown, but tender Jesus came to them saying, “Get up, don’t be afraid.”

Isn’t this the way we are? We like everything packaged, but God will always break out and move in a way we don’t think or know about. Why, He even reaches right down into our wicked, sinful lives and takes us unworthy people and suddenly sets us free! He comes suddenly and unexpected. He overcomes us with His love. He delivers us. Who is this God? He is the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world that pursues us with love.

“God will rejoice over you”
Isaiah 62:5

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GOD’S UNFAILING GENEROSITY

Sunday, July 11th, 2010

Day 130

“Every good and perfect gift is from above”
James 1:17

Who are we to receive such good and perfect gifts from God? He loves us and gave Himself for us [Galatians 2:20]. He is a God who gives Himself to sinners. He gave us opportunity for a new birth. He made the way by taking our sins and placing them on His own Son to pay the penalty. He removed condemnation from us.

God then equipped us to live our lives in Him until the day of coming face to face to Him. He gave us His Holy Spirit to dwell in us. He equipped us with everything we need for life and godliness. He forgave us our sins, past, present and future. He placed a seal on us so we will not be lost.

And after the great gift of eternal life, He gave us a family to live in, the church, the community of the redeemed. Here He is our great Shepherd, priest and king. We dwell in His pasture and He feeds and cares for us. He plants His footsteps in the storms of our lives, calming the winds and seas. He comes to us in our hour of need comforting us with His presence by spreading a table before us in the presence of our enemies. He fills our cup to overflowing.

“Goodness and Mercy have followed me
all the days of my life”
Psalm 23:6

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