God Delights to Forgive

Who is a God like to you, that pardons iniquity, and passes by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retains not his anger for ever, because he delights in mercy (Micah 7:18).

No wonder God's grace is classified as amazing. It baffles and astounds the mind when one considers how God loves us and forgives us of all trespasses in Christ. He does it freely, ungrudgingly, completely, lavishly, unabashedly and delightfully. God loves to forgive. He delights in mercy.

That's good news for failing and faithless men and women. Our God forgives us of our sins with an attitude of joy. Once we repent, turn around and seek Him, God rushes to forgive. He doesn't stand over us waiting for us to grovel for an appointed time. He doesn't put us on probation to prove we are worthy of forgiveness. That's what we do but that's not what God does. He delights in forgiveness. I see now why Jesus said that there is joy in heaven over one sinner that repents than over ninety-nine that don't need to.

This also a great challenge of character. How can we love a God that loves to forgive and not desire to be like Him in the way that we forgive? How can we celebrate God's love and not emulate God's love? In fact, Jesus' parable of the unforgiving servant (Mt. 19), shows a very forgiving master, having a seriously violent reaction to a servant who, while forgiven of his crimes, does not forgive another. "Forgive us of our debt as we forgive our debtors," resonates with consequential meaning.

There are great benefits to being a person who loves to be merciful.

• Psychological freedom - Holding grudges are a huge burden that leads to exhaustion.
• Health - Scientist are discovering the stress associated with the unforgiving heart.
• Charisma - Being like God results in a winning personality. Favor and benevolence are bestowed on the forgiving person.
• Spiritually - You look like God when you love like God.

"To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love. In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness." - Robert Muller

A Haiku of Psalm 1

Blessed is the man

Who does not walk, stand or sit

In facets of sin

But delights in Word

So much so that day and night

His mind chews on it

Resembling a tree

Providentially planted

By flowing rivers

He produces with

Remarkable renewal

Having great success

But the ungodly

Are plainly the opposite

From the righteous man

They are like wheat husk

Useless, dried up and lightweight

Floating on breezes

This is the reason

Sinners are shamed in judgement

Avoiding worship

God is vigilant

Over the ways and the paths

Of the righteous man

But the foul lifestyle

Of those living against God

Will be demolished.

Busy Busy Busy? "Make sure that in all thy doings that thou doest the thing that thou doest." Aint no fun till the job gets done. Here's some Word on it.



Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Proverbs 7:15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
Proverbs 10:4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
Proverbs 11:27 He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.
Proverbs 12:24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
Proverbs 12:27 The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.
Proverbs 13:4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
Proverbs 21:5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.
Proverbs 22:29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
Proverbs 27:23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.

You Die By what you Live By

"Then said Jesus to him, Put up again your sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. (Mt. 26:52)."

We know this historical saying as 'Live by the Sword, Die by the Sword.' While Jesus was dealing with some serious matters in the Garden of Gethsemane, this may have already been a proverbial statement. It certainly is proverbial today. Very few people even have a sword but this proverb is still applicable.

It is a warning against violence -

This is the obvious or primary meaning. If you live by violence you will die violently. Anger, wrath, vengeance, strife, tumults and debates are indeed exciting and spectacular things. Nothing gets your blood pumping like a good fight. Nothing creates buy-in like the promise of contention. Sunday night service is always packed when the scent of blood is in the air. The problem is you can't live by this type of energy.

Violence begets violence. The ebb and flow of eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth can continue unceasingly, but it overflows into areas unforeseen. Harmony is disrupted, peace becomes rare, and growth is rendered impossible.

It can be a saying about values -

Proverbs can be applied in many ways. Therefore, the sword can mean more than a sword. Whatever you live by you die by. Whatever is important to you now will set the path for the continuance and situations of your life. The life you live will lead you. So while the sword represents negativity the principal can be positive.

If you live by the truth you will die by the truth. If you live by hard-work you will die by hard-work. If you live a life of love you can die still loving. If you live loving God then you will die loving God. Whatever value is important enough to live by will characteristically become what you die by.

Choose your path wisely.

Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Who is the man who desires life, And loves length of days that he may see good?

Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit.

Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.

Psalm 34:11-14

God is the alpha source of man's masculinity and the woman's femininity. He is the perfect father in providence and perfect mother in development. He chastises and comforts, He commands and pleads, He smites and saves, He destroys and raises again. We in turn fear the Lord and love him with all of our hearts.