“God's strictness emphasizes the seriousness of
delivering His message faithfully. Paul trembled at the very thought of
laziness: "Woe is me if I preach not." And Christ reached deep into
His own heart to persuade Peter: "Do you love me?... Feed my sheep" John
21:16. It is as if He had said, "Peter, you are crying and feeling guilty
because cowardice made you deny Me; but there is still a way to demonstrate
your love-- feed My sheep. Do this and stop worrying about that traitor of the
past." Once again, Christ showed more care for His sheep than for Himself.
God expresses joy when sinners accept His peace. Joy is
the highest testimony, which can be given to our peace. Love is to joy as fuel
is to fire. If love gathers only a few scraps of kindling-- only small desires
in the heart-- then the flame of joy that comes out of it will not be very hot.
Now because God takes such great joy in pardoning sinners, His affection is
also great in His offer of peace. In fact, the motive, which prevails with God
to forgive the ungodly, is that "he delights in mercy." "Who is
a God like you, that pardons iniquity, and passes by the transgression of the
remnant for his heritage? He retains not his anger forever, because he delights
in mercy" Micah 7:18.
If you ask a fisherman why he stands with his hook in the
water all night he will tell you it is because he enjoys fishing. Now you know
why God waits for sinners-- months, years-- preaching to them; He delights in
forgiving them by His grace and mercy. Now and then a government official will
pardon an offender more to please others than himself; but God forgives to make
His own heart glad. Thus when Christ came to reconcile sinners to God, His
ministry was called "the pleasure of the Lord" Isaiah 53:10.
Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete
Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell.
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