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“Unforgiveness hinders the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Therefore, forgive everyone and let the healing begin and others will see the beauty and holiness of the Lord in you!”
Stella
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How do we get to know God? (part 2)
There are so many characteristics of God, and a depth to those characteristics, that if it were possible (it’s not!) to know Him fully, it would take not only all of time, but all of eternity. Throughout eternity, we shall get to know Him more and more – now there’s an exciting thought.
So where do we start. What about a cursory look at His mercy, grace, and patience (to be continued next week).
“God’s mercy means God’s goodness toward those in misery and distress. God’s grace means God’s goodness toward those who deserve only punishment. God’s patience means God’s goodness in withholding of punishment toward those who sin over a period of time”
Wayne Grudem
Note: God is good all the time; all the time God is good. It is remarkable that God has chosen to reveal Himself in His dealings with His people both in the OT and the NT. The ultimate revelation of God is through His Son Jesus Christ and it is truly awesome that the greatest revelation of the love, goodness, mercy, grace, patience, etc., of God has come at the cross as a result of the appalling sin of the world.
God has also revealed Himself all the way through the period covered by the Scriptures, e.g., in His covenant relationship with His chosen people Israel who learned many things about God the hard way. E.g., Having sinned greatly in making, and worshipping, a golden calf, Moses is especially concerned that God would completely destroy these sinful people (see Exodus 32:7-10). But he also learns that the Lord loves those who will intercede for others:
So He said He would destroy them – had not Moses, His chosen one, stood in the breach before Him to keep His wrath from destroying them.
Psalm 106:23
How vitally important it is to pray for others, and for one another! Moses intercession foreshadows the even greater intercession of Jesus:
Therefore He is able to save completely, and for ever, those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.
Heb. 7:25
Such is an important part of His role as mediator:
For there is one God and one mediator between God and humankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all people.
1 Tim. 2:5-6
God tempers His wrath with mercy and reveals Himself to Moses:
And He passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished.
Exodus 34:6-7
Again, we must look at the cross because it is only here that the ultimate expression of God’s love, grace, mercy, and patience, and a full expression of His wrath takes place (cf. Rom. 3:25-26), Amen!
Quote of the week
“Two works of mercy set a man free: forgive and you will be forgiven, and give and you will receive”
Augustine
Verse of the week
Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed.
Psalm 85:10
Let’s Pray
Our merciful, loving, and gracious Father, thank You that You have shown great patience towards us. Thank You that You have not only forgiven us all of our sins, and washed them all away, but You have also given us new life through the gift of Your Holy Spirit and the precious blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ, shed on the cross; Thank You Lord, Amen.