Psalm 86:4-5 Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.Psalm 86:15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. (ESV)
I like being around gracious people. But, then, who doesn’t? They carry themselves a certain way that lets you know that they are approachable. They’re not proud or arrogant. They don’t seek to force their opinions on you. In fact, they may not even give them unless you ask. As a general rule, they are people who are genuinely concerned for the well-being of others. Though they may be going through a rough time themselves, they are ready to lend a hand, an ear to listen, or even a shoulder to cry on. I hope that you have some of these people in your life … people you can be open and honest with, and who will support you in your time of need.
Isn’t it great that God is both merciful and gracious? Take a moment and read the verses noted above one more time. Yes, God is holy and righteous. He knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts (Hebrews 4:12), and is our judge. If we’re honest with ourselves and God about our sin, we know that God has every right to be angry with us. Yet, He is “good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon [Him].”
The last part of that verse is vital. While there is such a thing as common grace (God’s sustaining grace and care for all people), there is a special kind of grace (called efficacious grace) that applies to those who call upon Him … who have salvation through Jesus Christ. We, who are His people, will experience His grace for all eternity. Through Christ, we can even call Him, “Abba! Father!” (Rom. 8:15; Gal 4:6). What a privilege!
Today, I hope you take time to thank God for His grace and rejoice in His gracious character!
In His grip,
Pastor Decker
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