This morning I am reflecting on the Lord’s patience and mercy. The first verse that comes to mind is a verse I think of often, found in Isaiah 55:6-11 NIV:
[6] Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
[7] Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
[8] “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. [9] “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
[10] As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, [11] so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
When I think of the God, I am so aware of His bigness, compared to me. What utter foolishness to think that I could ever figure out God’s motives, or all His actions! I can’t even figure out my own half the time! He sits outside of time, sees the expanse of all time, of all things, has all power, has all authority, is all knowing! He sees every person, sees their every action,knows their every thought! I cannot comprehend even the tiniest slice of those words I just wrote!
He sees all, and knows my every thought and action. David understood this and wrote some wonderful verses as he reflected on these truths. Some of these are found in Psalm 139:1-4,13,16 NIV:
[1] “You have searched me, LORD, and you know me.
[2] You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
[3] You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
[4] Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely.
[13] For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
[16] Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
In His intimate knowledge of me, He sees everything, my good, my bad, my thoughts, my actions! He knows me better than I know myself, for His perspective is perfect and complete!
He knows all of my sins, yet chooses to love me!
He knows all of my mistakes, yet chooses me as His son.
He knows my every weakness, every wrong motive, every wrong action and He forgives me for every one of them!
He has paid for my every sin with His very body and blood, and yet He loves me!
He chooses to see me as hidden in Him, clothed in His righteousness! He paid the ultimate price for me, to set me free from the bondage of sin and death! He has made me a new creation, even though I don’t perceive that reality clearly (nor barely at all).
Clearly His ways are not my ways!
Reflecting on God’s incredible patience, His forbearance with me is incredible. He is with me in spite of my countless sins, my inability to follow Him,to represent Him, to stay focused, to bear good fruit consistently! He never relents in His love, ever!
I am reminded of a few verses from Paul and Peter.
Romans 9:22-24 NIV:
[22] “What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? [23] What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— [24] even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?”
2 Peter 3:14-15 NIV:
[14] “So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. [15] Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.”
The Lord is patient with me! He is patient in seeing His word perfectly fulfilled (Is 55:11). He knows my every action, and He patiently loves me through every up and down, every struggle and doubt, every mistake, every time I lose my way!
In spite of all of my failings, He chooses to love me, to bless me, to pour forth blessings on me!
I am reminded of another of Davd’s wirings found in Psalm 103:8-14 NIV:
[8] "The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
[9] He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;
[10] he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
[11] For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; [12] as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
[13] As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
[14] for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust."
I know this is true for me! He is abounding in love toward me, and it is unexplainable form any context that I can provide in myself. I am clearly not worthy of His love, mercy, compassion and forgiveness and yet He showers me freely with all!
Clearly His ways are not my ways, or His thoughts like my thoughts!
I am so grateful for God’s love! I am grateful that He chose me before the creation of the world and has done everything! I am reminded of a few more verses from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians 1:3-6 NIV:
[3] “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. [4] For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love [5] he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— [6] to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.”
Amen and Amen and Amen!
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