Since Easter, I have had these verses rattling in my brain. I am reading in Jeremiah right now. I am amazed by God's desire to show mercy and I am amazed at man's ability to avert it. I see God new, yet the same. I am not all knowing, yet I do know he has been speaking to me of mercy and truth.
Psalm 85:
7 Show us your unfailing love, LORD, and grant us your salvation.
8 I will listen to what God the LORD says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—
but let them not turn to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.
10 Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven.
12 The LORD will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest.
13 Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps.
We watched the Passion of the Christ for the first time in a few years on Thursday before Easter. Each time I watch it I gain a new perspective and God changes my heart a little. This year the above passage was placed in my frontal lobe, coupled with the readings in Jeremiah and the strong upheaval of my family. I have struggled to see, to hear, to pray.
Then, as God so often does, he pulled it all together in my head this morning during my devotional time.
In my reading this morning God stressed his ability and plan to restore once more. He showed me that he will not allow evil to go unpunished, but he will restore.
The cross reveals to us the stupidity, selfishness and irrationality of mankind. A man who gave amazingly, a faultless man was beaten and publicly humiliated and savagely killed while onlookers mocked, ignored, or deserted him. There is no beauty in mankind at the cross.
God the Father and Jesus allowed injustice that justice might be satisfied. The cross reveals the extent to which God will reach to redeem and restore. There is no flaw in God at the cross.
Righteousness, with all its demands and condemnation of evil, and Peace, with all its solution and resolve met at the cross and kissed as long separated loved ones might.
To us then, comes the chance for redemption and restoration. How can God fail us if he is that same God? No ugliness of man could stop his hand. In fact, it made God's perfection complete. The cross was a very dark time for believers. I have said that I feel trapped this year between the crucifiction and the resurrection. But my faith still sees the resurrection. My spirit knows that redemption is near, even if I've not seen it yet. I will continue to pray with tears and concern for my immediate and extended family. Yet, peace has come to kiss the righteousness that the Son supplied.
Psalm 85:
7 Show us your unfailing love, LORD, and grant us your salvation.
8 I will listen to what God the LORD says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—
but let them not turn to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.
10 Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven.
12 The LORD will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest.
13 Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps.
We watched the Passion of the Christ for the first time in a few years on Thursday before Easter. Each time I watch it I gain a new perspective and God changes my heart a little. This year the above passage was placed in my frontal lobe, coupled with the readings in Jeremiah and the strong upheaval of my family. I have struggled to see, to hear, to pray.
Then, as God so often does, he pulled it all together in my head this morning during my devotional time.
In my reading this morning God stressed his ability and plan to restore once more. He showed me that he will not allow evil to go unpunished, but he will restore.
The cross reveals to us the stupidity, selfishness and irrationality of mankind. A man who gave amazingly, a faultless man was beaten and publicly humiliated and savagely killed while onlookers mocked, ignored, or deserted him. There is no beauty in mankind at the cross.
God the Father and Jesus allowed injustice that justice might be satisfied. The cross reveals the extent to which God will reach to redeem and restore. There is no flaw in God at the cross.
Righteousness, with all its demands and condemnation of evil, and Peace, with all its solution and resolve met at the cross and kissed as long separated loved ones might.
To us then, comes the chance for redemption and restoration. How can God fail us if he is that same God? No ugliness of man could stop his hand. In fact, it made God's perfection complete. The cross was a very dark time for believers. I have said that I feel trapped this year between the crucifiction and the resurrection. But my faith still sees the resurrection. My spirit knows that redemption is near, even if I've not seen it yet. I will continue to pray with tears and concern for my immediate and extended family. Yet, peace has come to kiss the righteousness that the Son supplied.
righteousness and peace have kissed....I just want to let that wash over me for a moment...
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