Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– Psalm 103:13
Forgives our Sins
One way the Father shows His love toward us is He “forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases” (Psalm 103:3). I would love to be healed of some of my ailments, but most important of all, I seek God’s forgiveness for my iniquities. Since earthly fathers can forgive their children of wrongdoings, the Father not only forgives them, but takes them away completely (Psalm 103:12).
Redeems our Life
The Psalmist wrote that God the Father, through Christ, “redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy” (Psalm 103:4). What a crown that is! A crown of love and mercy that is steadfast or unfailing. It’s not falling off! He also redeems our life from the pit of hell, again, only through Christ. Do we celebrate that; give thanks to God for that; rejoice in that?
Not Getting Even
God is a merciful God because we know that He “does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities” (Psalm 103:10). If He dealt with us according to our sins, who could stand? Not me! He isn’t like humans who want to repay evil for evil. He doesn’t deal with us according to what we deserve for our iniquities. He’s dealt with our sins through Christ. Amen!
Removal of Sins
God doesn’t just forgive our sins, they’re completely removed. How far removed? God says, “as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12), and the interesting point is east and west never meet like north and south do (at the equator). That’s permanent removal of our sins. Rejoice in that! Give thanks for that!
Compassion Toward Us
God is a tender Father and He “remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:14b), meaning since He created us and knows how fragile we are, and so, “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him” (Psalm 103:13). Fear, not in the sense of trembling in your boots for fear of the judgment of God but fear as in reverential respect, awe, admiration, and humility.
Conclusion
God is the most Perfect Father of all because He doesn’t give us what we deserve, which is the wrath of God, and we call that mercy; and then He gives us what none of us deserve, and we call that grace. I am so thankful for both. How about you? Let’s give God thanks for that right now, okay?
