Nougat 24

Are you familiar with people who go from ‘zero to angry’ in record time? Tempt you to walk on eggshells around them on the grounds of self-preservation. Thankfully, God’s not like that. Not according to my experience or today’s Holy Nougat

“The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭103:8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

To be compassionate is to have the capacity for understanding someone’s pain/situation and respond with concern and understanding. It requires lots of patience and can be interpreted as favoritism or a weakness (such as being a pushover). Mercy entails withholding judgement and punishment from someone, or defending someone who does not deserve it.

Our God is both.

Again, although these are attributes of God’s character, we recognize them as promises; because we can reference them in distress or use them as points of appeal to God. And, when the enemy of our lives begins to pour on the accusations, we can counteract with the truth of God’s promise. God is offended by our sin; but in mercy and compassion, God extends forgiveness and restores us to God’s likeness the moment we ask.

And while God permits some experiences; God’s not likely to rub our nose in our circumstances or tell us we deserved what happened. For the nougat assures us that God is not easily angered. God does not go from zero to angry as some of us do. And that’s simply because of God’s Love for us.

Love of a Creator for Creation that often feels illogical when those who we deem deserving of punishment seem to be easily forgiven. But, as I love to reason, it is what we desire for ourselves, is it not? I know I’ve been blessed by God’s grace and mercy many times and so have we all. Some of us have not even forgiven ourselves for some actions, although God (and the one/s we’ve wronged) have already done so.

Now we know in principle God is slow to anger and steadfast in love. The easiest and quickest way to discover that is – not to sin so grace may abound (see Romans 6:23), but – to seek and receive the forgiveness that extends to all. If the death row prisoner received compassion there on the cross beside Jesus; so can we. But we have to ask.

If you are able please do a reverse breath – on the exhale (with which we begin), we confess the sins that are haunting us; and on the inhale, we breathe in the gracious compassion from God’s Spirit. It takes a bit to get the rhythm, but it transforms our lives in the process.

Thank You Abba for Your unfailing Love and infinite mercy. We receive Your Spirit of compassion and will extend to others. Amen

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May all we seek be found in Christ