The Graciousness of God
God is love. He acts graciously toward everyone in the world. Even people who rebel against the Lord receive more than they deserve, because of God's grace. That was true for King Jeroboam II and the people of Israel in his day.(II Kings 13:23) Let's look and see what we can learn from their experience with our Gracious God.
The Lord had compassion on them. He felt their pain with them. He saw their troubles, and He was moved to help them. That is compassion. It plays a part in God's grace. He loves every person, so much that He can't help but feel their pain and act in a way to help them. He intends for us to be drawn to Him by His acts of compassion. Sometimes, that is what happens. However, sometimes people continue to reject Him, like Israel did by living in idolatry. In those instances God eventually has to punish them severely, but in His grace He gives them every opportunity to repent and trust Him as Lord of all.
Notice also the reason given here for the graciousness of God toward Israel. It was based on His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. That covenant was made more than 1,000 years before Jeroboam II. However, God's grace was acting even longer, because of the faith of their ancestors. The same is true for us many times. We benefit from godly grandparents or parents. God decides to shine His favor on us, because of their prayers and their relationship with Him. This truth should spur us on to faith and faithful prayers for our families.
Please, never doubt the grace of God and never take it for granted. If it was not for God's grace, we would all be destroyed. However, because of His grace we experience so much more than we deserve every day. Even if you are experiencing His displeasure right now, if you will turn back to Him, He will graciously forgive you and welcome you back into His favor.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Kings 16-18.
The Lord had compassion on them. He felt their pain with them. He saw their troubles, and He was moved to help them. That is compassion. It plays a part in God's grace. He loves every person, so much that He can't help but feel their pain and act in a way to help them. He intends for us to be drawn to Him by His acts of compassion. Sometimes, that is what happens. However, sometimes people continue to reject Him, like Israel did by living in idolatry. In those instances God eventually has to punish them severely, but in His grace He gives them every opportunity to repent and trust Him as Lord of all.
Notice also the reason given here for the graciousness of God toward Israel. It was based on His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. That covenant was made more than 1,000 years before Jeroboam II. However, God's grace was acting even longer, because of the faith of their ancestors. The same is true for us many times. We benefit from godly grandparents or parents. God decides to shine His favor on us, because of their prayers and their relationship with Him. This truth should spur us on to faith and faithful prayers for our families.
Please, never doubt the grace of God and never take it for granted. If it was not for God's grace, we would all be destroyed. However, because of His grace we experience so much more than we deserve every day. Even if you are experiencing His displeasure right now, if you will turn back to Him, He will graciously forgive you and welcome you back into His favor.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Kings 16-18.