The Lord waits to be gracious to you; he exalts himself to show mercy to you. Isaiah 30:18 l
The cartoon to the right depicts God sitting at his computer in heaven with his finger hovering over the button marked “smite.” Unfortunately, many people perceive God in this way. God is often seen as arbitrary, at best, or severe and harsh, at worst, in his dealings with humanity.
However, scripture paints a very different picture of God. The prophet Isaiah describes the people of Israel as rebellious and unresponsive to God’s call to walk in holiness and righteousness. And yet, God is not waiting with his finger on the smite button; he is waiting to be gracious – he is waiting to show mercy. The psalm appointed for today (Psalm 103) also speaks of God as “full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger of great kindness.”
The definitive expression of God’s patience is the gift of his Son, Jesus Christ. This is the amazing logic of grace, that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!” (Romans 5:8). And not only did he die for us, he was also raised for us. He was raised that we might walk in newness of life. He was raised that we would no longer walk in the fear of death. He was raised that we might we set free from our bondage to sin.
Lord, thank you for your patience; thank you that you are slow to anger and of great kindness. We most especially thank you for the resurrection of you Son, Jesus Christ, an expression not only of your power, but also your love toward us. Set us free from the bondage of sin and death that we might walk in newness of life with you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
However, scripture paints a very different picture of God. The prophet Isaiah describes the people of Israel as rebellious and unresponsive to God’s call to walk in holiness and righteousness. And yet, God is not waiting with his finger on the smite button; he is waiting to be gracious – he is waiting to show mercy. The psalm appointed for today (Psalm 103) also speaks of God as “full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger of great kindness.”
The definitive expression of God’s patience is the gift of his Son, Jesus Christ. This is the amazing logic of grace, that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!” (Romans 5:8). And not only did he die for us, he was also raised for us. He was raised that we might walk in newness of life. He was raised that we would no longer walk in the fear of death. He was raised that we might we set free from our bondage to sin.
Lord, thank you for your patience; thank you that you are slow to anger and of great kindness. We most especially thank you for the resurrection of you Son, Jesus Christ, an expression not only of your power, but also your love toward us. Set us free from the bondage of sin and death that we might walk in newness of life with you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
l
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