PSALM 86:15 – But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”
THEME OF THE DAY: THE SECOND GREATEST DISPLAY OF GOD’S LOVE. Here is a quick and easy two question Bible test. The answer to the first question is obvious. The second question? It is described all through today’s scripture. Question one – What is the greatest display of God’s love to us? Answer one – the giving of His Son to die for us; For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 13:16). Question two – What is God’s second greatest display of His love? Patience. Notice how it is embedded throughout today’s scripture. The patience of God in being merciful, withholding His wrath which we deserve, full of grace, slow or patient with His anger, and overflowing with steadfast love and faithfulness.
Take a moment, go down memory lane, as far as you want, and recall God’s patience in your life. I will go with you. How many times have we failed Him, even allowed ourselves to sin against Him? What does His patience do for us – forgives and restores us, every time – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
What about those times we were fearful, doubting, and seem to have no strength for another day? We felt the patience of God coming with grace, powerful and sufficient grace to overcome our weaknesses – But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me (2 Corinthians 12:9).
One more display of God’s love to us in His patience. How about when we drift a little spiritually and worldliness starts to creep into our hearts? God doesn’t give up on us. No, His patience comes to us once again in the form of loving but firm correction – My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights (Proverbs 3:11-12).
So, how should we respond to such displays of God’s love in the giving of His Son and His wonderful patience with us? The obvious answers are with thankfulness, gratitude, and praise, but something else. As we are gripped with God’s amazing grace in the Lord Jesus and His continual longsuffering with us in life, the highest form of gratitude and praise we may give Him is a greater resolve, a greater commitment, and a greater zeal to obey the Great Commandment – “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment” (Matthew 22:36-38). The response to God’s love is to love God more fervently, affectionately, and consistently.
PRAYER: “Father, I praise You for Your patience with me that after I fail You, You always come with restoring grace.”
QUOTE: “Look at Christ’s cross for God’s greatest display of love, and then look at His patience with you for the second.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim