Less Than We Deserve
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Psalm 103:10-12 NASB
He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Ezra 9:13 ESV
And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, seeing that you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserved and have given us such a remnant as this,
I sat this morning reading through much of the New Testament. As I went to the kitchen for my second cup of coffee I realized that it was getting late and had not yet “zeroed in” on a verse or thought for the morning. When I came back to the computer I decided to check on my “bible verses e-mails.” Wow! The Old Testament! I had just commented in Sunday School that so many of us focus only on the New Testament -- because of Jesus’ resurrection. We forget the rich and enthralling history of events that lead up to that Easter Sunday!
Both of these scripture describe the depth and generosity of our God. Throughout the Old Testament we read of God destroying cities, countries, entire races -- oh, but wait -- he never completely eradicates a people -- he has always left a remnant to tell the tale. God preserves a remnant, because he loves us too much to completely destroy us. For thousands of years the pattern was the same. Even in Eden, mankind sinned . . . God withdrew his intimacy, but not his presence. Man sinned and rebelled and even reviled our God, and yet he continued (and continues!) to give us yet one more chance. Not that we don’t suffer the consequences of our actions and our decisions!
God loves us so much! It is cause for celebration! For dancing in the streets! For rejoicing in the hillsides! We are loved more than we can sin! We are loved so much that God sent Christ into the world to be our sin. When God became so distressed and hurt and sad and disappointed in us that he had every right to wipe us off the face of the earth and start all over, what did he do? What did he do?
It is unimaginable! To be loved so much! I wonder if sometimes we sin because we perceive our own sinfulness and cannot imagine being worthy of that kind of love? One of my friends is famous for commenting on some quirk or peculiarity, “People are just fascinating.” She says it with absolute resignation to the truth that she (nor we) will ever really know ourselves or each other. But God knows us. He knew us before time began. He knit us together in our mother’s womb. He was there when we were born. He placed a soul within us.
I wonder what my life would be like and look like if I lived every day as if I believed--really believed and recognized--that I was so loved that nothing I ever do or say will separate me from God’s love. He even sent his son to earth to remind us of that truth. It is just absolutely inconceivable!
I hope you spend today rejoicing with me that we are loved so much more than we deserve and can imagine! And that you will extend that love to God’s world.
Mary
