“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. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.” (Psalm 103:8-14 NIV)
It is so easy to criticize and be angry with people for their failures and sin. Yet, our God holds a tight rein on his anger. Where we respond angrily, He responds compassionately, graciously. We rush to pick up stones, but He rushes to the fallen one with compassion and grace.
In our many relationships, we tend to continually harp on the failures, berating but not forgetting. And even when He finally does get angry, our God doesn’t hold onto his anger — He doesn’t stay angry for ever. He doesn’t deal with sinners like their offenses deserve. In others words, the sin is not the controlling factor in God’s decision.
Instead of depositing our sin in the memory bank of retribution, God blots it out with his mercy. Instead of holding on to it as evidence of our unworthiness, God puts himself between us and our sin. His coming between us and the sin effectively separates us from the possibility of ever having to face the judgment for that sin. What a gracious Savior! O Hallelujah!
Now we know why He is called our Heavenly Father. Just like a father reacts tenderly and lovingly to his children, God reacts with tender love towards everyone who reverences him. He understands our weakness and our strengths because He created us. He does not forget what we are made of.
Dear Father, thank you for your intervention on our behalf. Grant that we may be compassionate and gracious to others. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today because of our Father’s tender love,