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,
Gazing into space, the end appears limitless, exemplifying Your mercy toward those who fear You. Mercy means not receiving what one deserves while being given what they do not deserve. We struggle to let go of many sins; new sins, combined with our pride, resentments, and judgments, obstruct us. Our attitudes drive us to lash out at others in unloving ways and with harsh words, for which we deserve eternal condemnation. You have said that the wage of sin is death. For each of our sins, we should rightfully receive a death sentence for eternity, cast away from You in hell forever—this is our wage for our sins.
However, those who trust in You also trust in Jesus. Jesus has transformed everything and brought us Your mercy by suffering and dying on the cross for all our sins. He has removed our sins as far as the east is from the west, and our rebellious acts are no longer counted against us. Since our sins are gone, nothing can separate us from You; we are reunited with You through faith in Jesus. Forgiveness is the power of Your mercy; it is how You bring sinful humans, whom You love, into Your perfect heaven. You have this loving compassion for all Your believers just like a father to their children. Yet, this can be challenging for many whose fathers were less than caring or loving. As our heavenly Father, You look out for all our needs, provide for our physical and spiritual well-being, hear our every request, gladly listen to us, and desire for us to be with You in heaven.
Let our response to your love for us be this: to share the power of your mercy and Jesus’ forgiveness, which he won for us on the cross, with all those around us who do not know or trust you. Please instill faith in them and, at the same time, strengthen our faith so that we all cling to your love, mercy, and grace. Amen.
Written through Pastor Roger Emmons
God’s love is for everyone, but no one is forced to receive it. Even though some people reject His love and mercy, this does not diminish the power of salvation for those who believe. Remember this: God loves you and desires for you to be with Him forever, receiving His gracious gifts.