Beautiful Word Devotional #331

The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished.

Numbers 14:18

We couldn’t be more different from our Lord. We are impatient, and anger comes easily; God is slow to anger. We who sometimes have a hard time loving members of our families definitely struggle to love our enemies. God abounds in love, choosing to love the entire race of sinful, rebellious human beings. We hold grudges against people who have deliberately hurt us. But God consistently pardons our sins, accepting us because of the perfect sacrifice of his Son, Jesus Christ.

Looking only at these three traits, we can be grateful that God is Judge of our world. He has high and holy standards, yet he is loving and forgiving. Of course, he will be fair as he brings justice. People suffering under oppression, victimized by economic forces and the dictates of culture, or targeted by crime and terrorism can be confident that God will judge.

One day everything will be made right by our patient, loving, and forgiving God.

Lord, thank you that you are loving and forgiving and yet the perfect judge, amen.