NO RECORD; UNFAILING LOVE, FULL REDEMPTION!
As I was reading tonight I was once again reminded by King David concerning the nature of God. Understanding our Creator is a task that will never be accomplished (at least by me) but I can understand the most basic things that are needed for feeling good about my journey here on earth. Allow me to quote David:
Ps 130 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. O Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.
David makes it clear that if God were to keep a record of our sins no one would be left standing, but he doesn’t stop with that, he also makes it clear that we can not only count on His love but that His love will never fail us. And then he tells us why that love won’t fail——HE HIMSELF WILL REDEEM US FROM ALL OUR SINS.
You see, the only possible way that any of us could ever rest our head at night in peace is to know that God is NOT counting on us to accomplish His unfailing LOVE. Sometimes I really get tired at those who attack me for giving God all the credit due him. Why do so many christians fight so hard against this idea that God is the Potter and we are the clay? Does the clay have any say whatsoever concerning how the Potter will fashion it?
I don’t suppose I will ever understand why we humans make so many stupid choices as we journey along. I am 56 and still find myself saying and doing things I know to be wrong and hurtful to others. I am always sorry about it and yet at the end of each new day the only thing I’m sure about is how grateful I am that God doesn’t keep a record of my wrongs, always loves me, and my redemption is never in question. Those three simple things are what allows me to get up each new day with a great desire to be all that I can be.
So, as I lay my head down tonight I will utter some silent words into the darkness——"Thank you Lord for loving me in spite of my poor performance, and teach me Lord to love others the way you have loved me."
The world is redeemed, indeed!
THAT, is the Good News of the Cross of Christ! Why has the church missed it? Are they afraid they will lose their control over the people, and their power to manipulate the masses to do their work (and further increase their power)?
Great reading this morning Cliff. Bruce, you say “are they afraid they will lose control over the people”. That probably hits the nail right on the head. Whether they know they are controlling or not does not change the fact they DO control. They miss it due to blindness the same as Israel did. However, I have asked myself the same question and still do, why has the church missed it? It is plain to see they have missed it but sad nonetheless.
Bruce & Roy, You know, down deep I think most christians either want to or do believe in this bold grace but the so called leaders will never let them fully partake of this great banquet of grace that God wants us all to feast on. Sad indeed.