I was just a few seconds into reading my online, One-Year Bible when it became clear to me what the Morning Devotion topic would be today — God’s amazing grace.
In Exodus 34, God and Moses had just been through a time of intense anger toward the Israelites because of their shameful, carnal abandonment of trust in God’s holy authority and Moses’ leadership.
Thousands died in acts of divine retribution against the hard-core defiant.
Yet, God wanted to show His heart toward the majority who turned from their sinful attitudes and resumed obedience to God.
Listen to these words from God Himself about Himself recorded by Moses in Exodus 34:6-7…
“The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.”
Wow.
Compassionate. Merciful. Slow to anger. Filled with unfailing love. Faithful beyond measure. Lavish in loving. Forgiving as in really forgiving.
Hmmm….. guess it’s no surprise that seven characteristics are listed.
Yes, it’s true that people disappoint us at times and sometimes even hurt us.
How should our responses be characterized?
Compassionate. Merciful. Slow to anger. Filled with unfailing love. Faithful beyond measure. Lavish in loving. Forgiving as in really forgiving.
Listen, if God could show these responses to the people of Israel for the HORRIBLE things they did, I believe we should be willing to display them toward people who typically do far less offensive things to us than what was done to God.
We all have work to do in this regard. So let’s get to it.
Our Father in heaven will love seeing us living as chips off the old block.
As always, I love you
Martin
