II John 1:3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
Hebrews 4:15-16 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Mercy: compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.
Grace: do honor to, or show credit to, by one’s presence.
His presence in our life is POWER in itself. His presence is enough, no words are necessary. He is not required to speak anything to us so that we feel justified as His child. His presence is all that we really need. That should be comfort enough. Yet, I find myself so many many…ok, numerous times…reaching for something more. I don’t know if it’s just the humanity in me or what, but most of the time I feel that I need something so tangible. I don’t know if that’s good or if that’s bad; but, it is what it is. Please don’t judge.
So, I reach.
Just for HIM to step into a room where we are, that alone, should give us assurance that He is showing credit to us, so that we may obtain His compassion, forgiveness, and love. Even as it is in HIS power to destroy us, yet He gives grace...mercy...peace.
I’m so thankful His mercies are NEW every morning. I find a tangible scripture which verifies this…
Lamentations 3:22-24, It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
The book of Lamentations is a poetic book of the Hebrew, and is said to be composed by the Jewish prophet Jeremiah (aka: the weeping prophet). It mourns the destruction of Jerusalem and the Holy Temple which historians say took place 6th century BC.
Lamentations, in the Hebrew canon, is ‘Eikhah’, meaning “How”. Fitting formula for the commencement of a song of wailing, don’t you think? I don’t know about you, but often times I find myself having this word, “How”, stuck in the compartments of my brain. Phrases like, “How can this be…”, “How is this going to…”, “HOW come it has to be this…”, "How am I going to...", etc.
And, so, I weep.
For me, life holds way too many questions and not enough answers. There are way too many….’hows’ and not enough 'whens', or so it seems.
There is a lot of bitter sadness recorded in this book of Lamentations (to which I have so limited understanding) but I am so very glad that these 3 verses were written in its writings. It lets me to know that even in the midst of agony, wailing, and disappointments….even while I feel like I’m being…taken..apart…bit. by. bit….GOD is near. In the middle of trial these verses point me back to ‘hoping in HIM’, so that I somehow do not come totally unraveled.
Today I cling to His GRACE. I cling to His MERCY. I cling to His PEACE. Clinging to HIM and HIS unchanging hand today while holding in the other hand the song by Tramaine Hawkins, I Never Lost My Praise. Truly, it is of the LORD’s mercies that I am not consumed.
*****************
PS: After writing this I flipped the page of my calendar to today’s date (yes, it’s a bit late in the day, but…again, it is what it is. :-)). Let me just say, it was a significant moment when I read the words on the little page. It’s just so totally a “God-thing!”.
This is what it says:
NO TEST OR TEMPTATION THAT COMES YOUR WAY IS BEYOND THE COURSE OF WHAT OTHERS HAVE HAD TO FACE. ALL YOU NEED TO REMEMBER IS THAT GOD WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN; HE’LL NEVER LET YOU BE PUSHED BEYOND YOUR LIMIT; HE’LL ALWAYS BE THERE TO HELP YOU COME THROUGH IT.
Ok, God. Ok. :-) and so I breathe deep. Moments like these are treasures to keep.
No comments:
Post a Comment