God is Gracious and Merciful
The people of Judah had sinned against the Lord so much that He had sent them into exile in Babylon. However, He still loved them, and He was gracious and merciful toward them. (II Chronicles 30 :9) That is God's nature, since He is love, and love never fails. We can count on His grace and mercy, but He is waiting for us to respond to Him.
Our part is to return to the Lord when we get away from Him, and to stay close to Him the rest of the time. Love always wants to have the other person respond. If they don't return, they will still love them, but if they do, they will give them even more grace and mercy. That is what God told the people in exile. It applies to us, too. Remember, when God is gracious, He gives us more than we deserve. When God is merciful, He punishes us less than we deserve. We all need a lot of both, so let's determine in our hearts to stay close to Him always and bask in His grace and mercy.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Chronicles 31-33.
Our part is to return to the Lord when we get away from Him, and to stay close to Him the rest of the time. Love always wants to have the other person respond. If they don't return, they will still love them, but if they do, they will give them even more grace and mercy. That is what God told the people in exile. It applies to us, too. Remember, when God is gracious, He gives us more than we deserve. When God is merciful, He punishes us less than we deserve. We all need a lot of both, so let's determine in our hearts to stay close to Him always and bask in His grace and mercy.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Chronicles 31-33.