Friends, look how God describes himself--
“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; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” (in Exodus 34)
The end part, about punishing sin, makes sense to me. I expect it. Regular people punish each other for breaking laws. People go to jail for stealing just like 2+2=4. When I do wrong I expect to be squished like a mosquito.
The part that makes me cry and sing is the first part. The Lord is compassionate. Gracious. Slow to anger. Not moderate in anger or pretty reasonable or fair but slow to get angry even though anger is deserved! Then, abounding in love and faithfulness. Not just a little bit loving, or loving once in a while, but lavish and overwhelming in love, constant and faithful. Only for the perfect people? No! He even forgives wickedness. Forgiving, compassionate, gracious, eager to love--this is the Lord. Can you believe it? Do you remember how incredible? In his breathtaking nature there is hope of forgiveness and love for even a disgusting sinner like me. Thanks be to God!
The part that makes me cry and sing is the first part. The Lord is compassionate. Gracious. Slow to anger. Not moderate in anger or pretty reasonable or fair but slow to get angry even though anger is deserved! Then, abounding in love and faithfulness. Not just a little bit loving, or loving once in a while, but lavish and overwhelming in love, constant and faithful. Only for the perfect people? No! He even forgives wickedness. Forgiving, compassionate, gracious, eager to love--this is the Lord. Can you believe it? Do you remember how incredible? In his breathtaking nature there is hope of forgiveness and love for even a disgusting sinner like me. Thanks be to God!
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