Psalm 103:11-13
Yes, as high as the heavens are above the earth, so powerful is his mercy toward those who fear him. As distant as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our rebellious acts from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for this Psalm because it demonstrates the magnitude of your love for us. When we consider the power of something, it is how much it can move, like a train with all the engines pulling the numerous coal cars up a mountain’s track. Do we think of the power in your love and mercy? The psalmist writes, “so powerful in his mercy toward those who fear him.” Your mercy means: we are not given what we deserve instead given what we do not warrant. You told Adam and Eve that if they ate of that tree, they would surely die; because they ate of the tree, and death has come to all the world. Death is what we deserve because of our sins; you should have destroyed all mankind! Instead, here is the power of your mercy: you sent your Son into this world to become a person like us; he lived a life of perfection and took all our sins to the cross with him. You delivered us from what we deserved and gave us eternal life we do not deserve; this is the power of your mercy. For Jesus’ sake, you removed our sins as far as the east is from the west. We are no longer buried under our sin but covered in your Son’s righteousness—the great exchange of your mercy. You have great compassion for those who fear and love you; you are our heavenly Father. Thank you for not only sending your Son but your Spirit as well to establish faith in us to trust and believe in you. Strengthen our faith so we will continue to revere and love you. Amen.
Roger Emmons
Pastor
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
God’s love is more enormous than what we can imagine, and he is more extraordinary and superior than any of our problems or our sins.