Oct 25

Compassionate and Gracious

“But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” Psalm 86:15

Is this how you view God? Compassionate, viewing our suffering and wanting to help us? Gracious, full of kindness, freely giving us grace and mercy, though we do not deserve it? Slow to anger, not a vindictive God, seeking to punish us for our failures and our sins? He is a God abounding in love, desiring to have us restored to oneness with Him. His love is so great that He went to the very ends of the earth to bring back his children into relationship with him. His love is so great that He sent His most prized possession, His Son, to die for us. His love is so great that He watched the very creation he chose to bring back to himself, beat and crucify the Son of His love. Surely there is none other like Him! He is faithful, even when we are unfaithful. He is loving, even when we are unloving. He is compassionate, even when we are cruel. He is gracious, even when we are vindictive. It is these very qualities that draw us to Him. They are so foreign to the fallen human, for they are divine. 

Father, how grateful we are that you are a God of grace, compassion, love and faithfulness! We know we do not deserve such things from you. We fail you continually, but how blessed we are that you are slow to anger and your love endures forever. Touch our hearts, dear LORD; let these qualities penetrate our very being. Make us like you; slow to anger, compassionate, bestowing grace freely to others, abounding in love. Transform us with your love to your glory and honor. Amen