Love loosed and seeking a needy one
“Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” (Rom. 5:20).
“For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” (Rom. 11:29).
“For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!” (Rom. 11:32,33).
“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34).
“Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in His goodness.” (Rom. 11:22).
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1Tim.2:5,6).
“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:10,11).
Where sin abounded God’s love much more abounded. He had compassion on us, even though we were an abomination to Him. Jesus revealed His Father when He likewise had compassion on the people. “When He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” (Matt. 9:36).
They were in disarray, confused, aimless. They had no hope in God nor burning desire to know Him. Yet, Jesus had compassion on them. In fact, our greatest argument before God’s throne is our need. God has compassion on us, not because we have achieved greatness, but because we haven’t. We are troubled and hurting. We need; therefore He says, “Here, I AM.”
“Hearken unto Me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence we are digged.” (Isa. 5:1). We aren’t much to look at, yet we are the “apple of His eye.” (Zech. 2:8). God is happiest when He can be gracious. And He even gets mad when He can’t be gracious because we come to Him with all of our attainments and obedience.
“They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Matt. 9:12,13).
“What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.” (Rom. 4:1,2).
Job tried to recommend himself before God based on all of his good works. And this was the booming response from the Lord:
“Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy lions like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou Me. Where was thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.” (Job 38:1-4).
No, we come to God as dependent creatures with the acknowledged propensity to evil and in need of help. That is the only way to come to God. Jesus is our way to God. A mediator is the access, the only access. We need an Advocate because without advocacy we can’t talk with God without blurting out disdainful anger and pride. Until we are surrendered to need and inadequacy, we will fight such an arrangement. We will stay away from the God of compassion.
But, when compassion becomes our all encompassing need from someone as big and important as God, then we will see ourselves in all the sinfulness as God sees us. We will be humbled by our failures and the damage we have brought to our loved ones and to strangers alike. We will be thankful for a Savior from sin, a compassionate, merciful, humble Friend and Creator, our elder brother, Jesus.
“For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” (Rom. 11:29).
“For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!” (Rom. 11:32,33).
“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34).
“Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in His goodness.” (Rom. 11:22).
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1Tim.2:5,6).
“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:10,11).
Where sin abounded God’s love much more abounded. He had compassion on us, even though we were an abomination to Him. Jesus revealed His Father when He likewise had compassion on the people. “When He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” (Matt. 9:36).
They were in disarray, confused, aimless. They had no hope in God nor burning desire to know Him. Yet, Jesus had compassion on them. In fact, our greatest argument before God’s throne is our need. God has compassion on us, not because we have achieved greatness, but because we haven’t. We are troubled and hurting. We need; therefore He says, “Here, I AM.”
“Hearken unto Me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence we are digged.” (Isa. 5:1). We aren’t much to look at, yet we are the “apple of His eye.” (Zech. 2:8). God is happiest when He can be gracious. And He even gets mad when He can’t be gracious because we come to Him with all of our attainments and obedience.
“They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Matt. 9:12,13).
“What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.” (Rom. 4:1,2).
Job tried to recommend himself before God based on all of his good works. And this was the booming response from the Lord:
“Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy lions like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou Me. Where was thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.” (Job 38:1-4).
No, we come to God as dependent creatures with the acknowledged propensity to evil and in need of help. That is the only way to come to God. Jesus is our way to God. A mediator is the access, the only access. We need an Advocate because without advocacy we can’t talk with God without blurting out disdainful anger and pride. Until we are surrendered to need and inadequacy, we will fight such an arrangement. We will stay away from the God of compassion.
But, when compassion becomes our all encompassing need from someone as big and important as God, then we will see ourselves in all the sinfulness as God sees us. We will be humbled by our failures and the damage we have brought to our loved ones and to strangers alike. We will be thankful for a Savior from sin, a compassionate, merciful, humble Friend and Creator, our elder brother, Jesus.
posted by David | 6:06 PM
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