I am void of grace and mercy.
The goodness I have convinced myself that I posses, continues to transform into polluted garments. (Isaiah 64:6)
Now more than any other period in my life am I aware of the depravity that dwells in me.
Oh how deep my impurity and unholiness runs.
I am so quick to speak, so quick to become angry, so quick to think the worst.
It's so easy to judge others on how they're not providing, not giving, not obeying the Lord.
Their misery soon runs over into my misery and a mess is created.
Sometimes I feel more like a child of wrath than a new creation. (Ephesians 2:3, 2 Corinthians 5:17)
I submit to the passions of my flesh daily. Whether this be in the form of unrighteous anger or unbiblical guilt.
This sin gives way to hopelessness which gives me the feeling that I am blowing away in the wind. (Isaiah 64:6)
This sin gives way to hopelessness which gives me the feeling that I am blowing away in the wind. (Isaiah 64:6)
"BUT GOD, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." Ephesians 2:4-10
But God...
He is not like us. (Numbers 23:19)
He is not quick to judge, but He is the righteous judge. (Psalm 7:11)
He is not quick to become angry, but He is jealous for His name. (Isaiah 48:9-11)
He is not quick to speak, but He speaks only the truth. (Titus 1:2)
He is not quick to become angry, but He is jealous for His name. (Isaiah 48:9-11)
He is not quick to speak, but He speaks only the truth. (Titus 1:2)
Oh the hope that is found in the Savior! Though my misery and the misery around me is thick, sticky and foul He is not.
God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
Numbers 23:19
This passage in Numbers is generative to my dried up, hopeless heart.
God keeps His word, God is not like us, God is not hypocritical or moody.
He says what He means and He means what He says.
That doctrine of truth is exactly what encourages and pushes me closer to the Lord.
It's what puts air in my lungs after a discouraging and tearjerking week.
I can rest safely and securely in the arms of my Savior and His promises.
And He promises to not leave me in my mess.
He promises to catch me before the wind dissolves me.
(1 John 1:9, Micah 7:18, Hosea 6:1-3, 14:4-7, Isaiah 1:18)
So because Numbers 23:19 is true, Ephesians 2:4-10 is also true.
And if the life, mercy, grace, forgiveness and abundant love given and shown in Ephesians is true...
He can preserve me through anything.
