God's Word is a wonderful thing because it lives and breathes in ways that no other book can. I am constantly amazed at the Holy Spirit's ministry to the believer, to illuminate a passage of the scriptures. It happens at the perfect time, with a most profound application. And, sometimes, we just need a reminder of a truth that had gotten lost in the shuffle of life over time.
I was reading Psalm 103 a few days ago, and several days later, it is still resonating with me. I can write a book on the psalm right now, but I'll just say a few things about my favorite verse in the psalm. Verse 10 reads:
"He does not treat us as our sins deserve, or repay us according to our iniquities."
Immediately, my mind was taken to the perfection and majesty of God. His dwelling place, Heaven, is perfect and majestic. His Son, Jesus, was perfect and majestic in His earthly ministry, and He reigns in perfection and majesty at the right hand of the Father now.
And this perfect and majestic God extends an offer to us... to dwell with Him for eternity! There is NO WAY someone like myself can go to heaven, and allow for heaven to retain its perfection.
He wants our hearts to be the earthly dwelling of the Holy Spirit. He wants to walk beside us, and befriend us, here and now! He created us in His image...
And I mess up every day.
In comparison to the rest of the world, I suppose I could get away with saying that I'm a pretty good guy, and I deserve good things from people based on how I treat them. In comparison to this loving, holy, perfect, and majestic Creator God, I don't stand a chance. I deserve death. I don't deserve an inheritance of a heavenly dwelling place. Nobody does!
Eternally, Jesus paid the price for the sin of the world, so that if I believe in Him, I am presented before God as righteous, worthy of that glorious dwelling.
Daily, I still sin. And yet...
He does not treat me as I deserve. He doesn't return harm for the harm I do. Oh, what a forgiving, patient, merciful, and compassionate God! Every day, I deserve worse. Every day, I should be grateful that God is not dealing with me and my sinful ways on a scaled system.
It's always humbling when the Lord blows up a passage of scripture and reveals His goodness in a way that resonates with me. Let the truth of this verse sink in, deep into your soul, and give you a fresh perspective on life and faith.
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