“He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear Him.” Psalm 103:10-13
Devotional Thought For The Day
The psalmist continues to “recruit” people into God’s kingdom by highlighting His benefits package. While these benefits are provided by God, and are truly “His” benefits, those which He provides and gives to us, when He speaks and promises these benefits to those who “fear Him,” those who believe Him, these benefits become ours, and we should think of them and speak of them as “our benefits package” as members of God’s kingdom. They are sure and certain, for they are created and established and guaranteed by His own Word. And you are well aware of what happens when God speaks [Gen. 1].
We again are so blessed to meditate upon these benefits that have become ours – much more so than when we consider and think about our earthly benefits package and our retirement provisions. What is the penalty incurred by our sins and our iniquities? Eternal death and hell, in suffering and torment, and totally separated from God, from all of His love and blessing. But this is not what we “receive” from Him, nor what we are paid! Just the opposite, we receive His gracious forgiveness and mercy; He removes our sins from us. How far are they removed? Is there any chance of them coming back upon us? Absolutely not, for they are removed from us “as far as the east is from the west” – these are not places but directions; our sins are constantly headed in the opposite direction from us. Our guilt and punishment for our sins is not coming back to us but has been resolved completely and permanently at the cross of Jesus Christ, where He became the blood atonement for our sins [and also for the sins of the whole world – 1 Jn. 2:2].
How much does He love us? We have no way to fathom the total distance between the highest height of heaven and the earth, but it is obviously immense beyond our comprehension. Just so is the love of God for us, for those who believe and trust in His promises, His Word, and His revelation of love for us. We grasp the limitations of our own love for God and for others; there is no such limitation with God. Just as His power is infinite [without any limits], so also His love for us is infinite; if only we could fully trust and believe, our hearts would be fully healed and without any fear or anxiety at all, for “perfect love casts out all fear.” [1 Jn. 4:18] This is why we meditate upon God’s love, and pray to Him for great faith and trust, so that He might heal our hearts and minds and souls!
This is so hard for us to believe that God humbles Himself to give us a comparison: “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear Him.” It is part of our great ignorance and foolishness that we often think that no one could love our children more than we do. And then we also doubt God’s love, as if we were stronger in love than God! The comparison does not pertain to the power and perfection of love, but to remind us that if we who are weak and pathetic sinners still have love and compassion for our children, how much more does the Perfect Father love and care for His dear children! And we know how much – as we look at His beloved Son hanging beaten, bloodied, and dead on the cross to provide for our forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life!
These are your benefits – freely and graciously given to you by God Himself, in His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Contemplate them – far more deeply and carefully than any of your earthly benefits!
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, the benefits You have supplied to us far surpass any treasures or pleasures we could possibly have in this life – and they bring great benefit and blessing to us even in this life, as we contemplate them and fear You. You have supplied them to us in Your suffering, You have stated and asserted these promises and guarantees to us in Your Word, You will for us to trust in You and to have faith. Help us to grow in faith and to receive all the blessedness You will for us to have. Amen.