Daily Devotion

July 15, 2006

Psalms 103:11-12 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. (12) As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

We humans often offend each other. We hold grudges and want restitution. We demand the humiliation of the offender. Ironically, though we are so self-righteous to those who offend us, we are not blameless ourselves. Mercy is a bridge we all need to cross. To blow it up so others can’t use it works to our disadvantage.

The distance of the heaven above the earth and between East and West are the most extensive dimensions we can think of. Our finite and limited human mind can only speculate the notions of them. God, the creator of the heavens, of the earth, and of the whole universe, knows these dimensions, and knowing that they are out of the realm of our human comprehension, He uses them to tell us that His mercy towards us is grander than anything we can imagine. He can’t put a price on it; it cost His Son to give it to us, and who can price a life? All He asks for in return is that we fear Him: that we recognize Him as God, and that we reverence and give due respect to His commandments and His will in our lives. Who could refuse a God like that? Man tries to apply justice; but only God has the power to give true mercy.

It is not comprehensible that one would refuse the free mercy of God, but will willingly accept the costly ‘free’ offers of the devil. It is pride that makes us refuse what is freely given; we want to work for it, earn it, to deserve it, which gives us an edge on control. The irony of this is that we live in a society where many of us accept to be lured by unnecessary indulgences which indebt us to financial institutions, using monies that aren’t truly ours and yet, in pride, refuse to be indebted to God and accept His free gift of mercy.

We should not be afraid to throw ourselves at God’s mercy, to indebt ourselves to Him in respect and reverence. It only costs the yielding of our lives, only to receive the resurrected life of His Son in return.

Matthew 13:45-46 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: (46) Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Patrick Lumbroso
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