September 10th - Reflection

Psalm 103:[1-7] 8-13 (NRSV)
God's compassion and mercy
( Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and do not forget all his benefits --
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the Pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good as long as you live
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

The Lord works vindication
and justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel. )

The Lord is merciful and gracious,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far he removes our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion for his children,
so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.

Reflection
God makes us to know his steadfast love. We know God's love because God has dealt with our sins through Jesus. So now God no longer has to deal with us according to our sins. We are now free to live for God and in God because of God's wonderful compassion for his beloved people.

As we remember the journey of the Chosen people out of the bondage of Egypt and into the Promised Land, we see a God that is faithful to his covenant and promise. God has promised us a freedom and a land. And God has canceled out our sin and counters the disease and weakness of sin with new life.

New life and new creation in a land filled with milk and honey. We look to this new land through the eyes of all people, knowing that in this land we will see him face to face. A promised land where every knee shall bow and proclaim the glorious, wonderful, everlasting name of our God and Savior.

What a promise, what a covenant, what a Savior! Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, focus the eyes of all people on you and your wondrous deeds, that we may learn to live in love, one with another... today... tomorrow and forever. --- Amen