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- Oct 26, 2007
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Who [is] a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights [in] mercy. Micah 7:18 NKJV
If you've ever spent much time in the company of a perpetually angry man, you know he's no joy to be around. He's hangs on to wrongs done against him as if they were his life preserver as he tries to keep from drowning.
The Bible says, however, that God can actually become angry, even at those He calls His own people. He became angry at Moses, and of course His anger burned against the people of Israel on numerous occasions. And Jesus Himself sometimes spoke well-timed words of anger to His disciples.
But God isn't like the man who won't let go of his anger. In fact, today's verse says, "He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy." Another way to say this is that God not only lets go of His anger and grants mercy to those in need of it, but He actually takes joy in doing so.
That's an important part of God's character to remember when (that's when, not if) you mess up and sin against Him. When you approach Him seeking forgiveness, you can trust Him to joyfully show you mercy.
Prayer: Gracious Father, thank You for loving me…and for joyfully showing me mercy when I sin against You.
If you've ever spent much time in the company of a perpetually angry man, you know he's no joy to be around. He's hangs on to wrongs done against him as if they were his life preserver as he tries to keep from drowning.
The Bible says, however, that God can actually become angry, even at those He calls His own people. He became angry at Moses, and of course His anger burned against the people of Israel on numerous occasions. And Jesus Himself sometimes spoke well-timed words of anger to His disciples.
But God isn't like the man who won't let go of his anger. In fact, today's verse says, "He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy." Another way to say this is that God not only lets go of His anger and grants mercy to those in need of it, but He actually takes joy in doing so.
That's an important part of God's character to remember when (that's when, not if) you mess up and sin against Him. When you approach Him seeking forgiveness, you can trust Him to joyfully show you mercy.
Prayer: Gracious Father, thank You for loving me…and for joyfully showing me mercy when I sin against You.
