Thoughts for another day

July 21, 2008

Today's verse: Judges 10:17. And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

When I think about my sin and the harm I do to the Lord, I can’t help but turn my face in grief thinking about what one might say ‘the shallowness of my relationship’ with Him. How, for momentary pleasure or gratification, I wantonly disobey Him or shame Him. If you ask how it grieves Him, it’s simply like this; there is always a struggle the evil one, the accuser of our souls has with the Father of lights. It is as if the evil one is mocking God about His creation. In a way, giving Him no option but to allow the devil to throw his dirt on our lives because of which we suffer.

When we sin, God is hurt because although He loves us so much and has done so much for us, we still hurt Him for such small things. Don’t we also get hurt when our children or parents hurt us slightly? Yet very different are God’s ways for when we repent of our wrong doings, He turns His face to us and like the Father of the prodigal son, embraces us with His best embrace. In the Old Testament, we see this part of God, which is so tender. Look if you will carefully on the text of our verse today. It says that when the Israelites put away their idols and repented and served God, He was sorry for them. This, after, they had hurt Him so bad.

Today too, the Lord is the same as yesterday. No matter how much we have hurt Him, He is still gracious to forgive us. Yes, He is hurt a lot. It pains Him so much because He has loved us so much and still does. Yet because of His love, He puts up with us and turns back to us the moment we repent and call on His Name. How beautiful is the Lord, you will agree just as the adulterous woman did, when she met Him face to face. All she saw in those eyes was warmth and a love that yearned for her and didst not seek to destroy her, but restore the relationship she had with Him. Blessed are you if you understand this.