He's God, it's what He does!

April 28, 2021 (Wednesday)

I don’t know about you but I rely on God’s grace and mercy. If you’ve heard me preach, you know I keeps saying “Grace is getting what you DO NOT deserve and mercy is NOT GETTING what you do deserve.”

I don’t know about you but I grew up with some severe ideas about God. My problem is I listened to the preacher instead of God. If you want to know what a person is like, talk to them and track their behavior.

Let’s listen to God for a moment. The prophet Micah proclaims, “Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.” [Micah 7:18 ESV] Say what?

I think we err on two sides of what is accurate, yet a very narrow path. On one side there is a loving God, on the other side there is a wrathful God. The problem is both are true, yet both are false if they are held out of balance.

Micah observes that God pardons iniquity and passes over transgressions. God does this because that is who He is. It is God’s character to pardon and pass over when condemnation, judgement, and wrath are well earned.

Yes God does get angry. I think His anger is when we destroy, pollute, or corrupt His created design. It is called sin. The problem with sin is it is contagious. I also think God is not angry with the individual. It is the individual’s actions that destroy, pollute, and corrupt that God wants to deal with… There is only one verse, in the 1611 KJV, which speaks about God hating sinners. Correction, that’s in what is called the apocrypha, included in the 1611 KJV.

To emphasize this character of God, Micah continues, “He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” [Micah 7:19 ESV] Notice God’s compassion on us separates us from our sin. It’s the sin God hates, not the sinner. God’s love separates us from all the unhealthy and destructive behaviors and attitudes.

The sea was an ancient image for “the afterlife” or “under world.” We would call it “Hell.” Imagine all those deceptive, destructive, devaluing things locked away in hell where they will never again control, bully, or manipulate you. You can be forgiven and free in Jesus.

Admit you are separated from God (by sin). Believe Jesus shed His blood for you, so you can be forgiven and free. Confess Jesus as Lord! (Tell people about your trust in Jesus for your salvation.) Feel free to contact me if you have made this decision or have any questions.