God of Wrath, or God of Mercy?--Jan. 9, 2015

[From Jan. 9, 2009 archive]

Are you a God of wrath, or a God of mercy?

When you search our hearts and minds,

do you really give us what we deserve?

Or is it that you are somewhat willing to

overlook our sinful ways, yet only to a point?

I would like to think there is no limit to your

compassion and forgiveness--that even though sin,

separation from you, leads to inevitable consequences,

withdrawal of your love for us is not among them.

What hope is there for us, any one of us,

if we receive only what we deserve?

Teach us to walk a level path between the error of

being complacent over the consequences of sin

and the error of thinking what we have done

is beyond your redeeming power to forgive.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 46; 147:7-11; 27; 93

Isa. 63:1-5

Rev. 2:18-29

John 5:1-15

Selected Verses

Ps. 27:11

Teach me your way, O LORD,
          and lead me on a level path
          because of my enemies. 

Isa. 63:5 

"…I looked, but there was no helper;
     I stared, but there was no one to sustain me;
so my own arm brought me victory,
     and my wrath sustained me.  …"

[The LORD, speaking of his vengeance on Edom]

Rev. 2:23b

And all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve.  [Words for the angel of the church in Thyatira]

John 5:14

Later Jesus found [the man whom he had healed on the sabbath] in the temple and said to him, "See, you have been made well!  Do not sin any more, so that nothing worse happens to you."