01/30/25 Compassion

READING:

One-year plan: Exodus 34-37

Two-year plan: Nehemiah 9:38-10:39, Acts 14:21-15:5

———-

The teenager who led me to the Lord focused primarily on the reality of hell in his gospel presentation. I’m grateful that he did, as the Lord used his words to turn my heart toward Him. Indeed, my friend’s emphasis on God’s judgment on sinners became instrumental in my coming to Christ. Now, however, I recognize there was so much more my friend could have told me about God. 

In fact, he could have simply spoken the words of Exodus 34:6-7 – “The Lord—the Lord is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But he will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation.”

Yes, God does rightly judge those who are guilty of wrong—but, He is so much more than judge. He is grace and patience and forgiveness. He is love (1 Jn 4:8). Given my sin, how grateful I am that the Lord is compassionate and forgiving! 

PERSONAL REFLECTION: “Are you grateful for the Lord’s compassionate grace?” 

DAILY PRAYER: “God, thank You for being who You are. There is none like you.”   

TOMORROW’S READINGS:

One-year plan: Exodus 34-37

Two-year plan: Nehemiah 11, Acts 15:6-21

MEMORIZATION VERSE (JAN 16-31):

 “A person’s steps are established by the Lord, and he takes pleasure in his way.” (Psa 37:23)

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