Psalm 103:11-12
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.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We don’t often equate mercy with power. When we confront someone, our first thought is to dig in our heels like a game of tug-of-war. We pull as hard as we can against the other person, so we want to stand our ground when someone has done us wrong. But that is not your mercy; it does not deliver what we merit but instead gives us what we do not warrant. Lord, we give you thanks for the power of your mercy. Our sins deserve for us to be condemned eternally; you have said through your word, “the wages of sin is death.” Indeed, death is what we have earned for all our loveless acts towards you and others. But in this same Romans passage, you also tell us, “But the undeserved gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord,” and this is the power of your mercy for all who fear you—that have faith in you. You do not pull on the rope; instead, you sent Jesus to pick up our burden and the rope of our sin. He wrapped himself in our sins and carried them for us. The power is in the forgiveness you have given to us as you have removed our sins as far as the east is from the west. There is no longer a need to hold on to sin’s guilt; no longer to be plagued with our past; Jesus paid the redemption price on the cross. He suffered for all our sins. Power is not in a fight against but in the love of carrying each other’s burdens. So we pray today—that your Holy Spirit will strengthen our faith, and we be reminded of the price Jesus paid for our forgiveness; he has removed our rebellious acts as far as the east is from the west. Let us also model this with those we encounter, so we do not fight against them but find ways to help them in their burdens. So may our actions resemble your love so that we have opportunities to share the good news of Jesus’ forgiveness with others. Amen.
Written through Pastor Roger Emmons
There is more power in mercy than in obstruction; God’s mercy demonstrates even more remarkable control for you as he has forgiven all your sins through Jesus.