What a gracious and merciful God you are!

Neh. 9:31  But in your great mercy, you did not destroy them completely or abandon them forever.  What a gracious and merciful God you are!

The Israelites had defied God.  They had ignored His command to not intermarry with the pagan people around them.  They had brought them into their homes and established lives with them.  As a result, they were led into even greater sin.  Yet, God did not do what they deserved to get.  He did not wipe the Israelites out.  He let them face the consequences of their sin, but He remained a witness amongst them.  He continued to raise up prophets to teach and admonish them.  He repeatedly tried to woo them back to Him.

I am so thankful that we serve a God who loves us unconditionally.  He loves us even though we mess up and defy His instructions to us.  He loves us and relentlessly tries to woo us back to Him.  He does not give up on us, even when others do.  He does not give up on us even when we give up on ourselves. 

Dear friend, worship the Lord our God today.  He is great in mercy and is gracious to us.  He never stops loving and pursuing us.  He doesn’t like it when we wander from Him.  He doesn’t like it when we disobey His Word.  But, He always welcomes us back within the fold of His love when we repent and turn back to Him. 

“Thank you, O Lord, for who you are.  You are gracious and merciful to us.  You are great in your compassion for us.  You never give up on us or abandon us in spite of our giving up on you or abandoning you.  You relentlessly pursue us all the days of our lives, longing to have fellowship with us.  Lord, thank you for the many opportunities you give us daily to live rightly before you.  Thank You for your relentless work to make us holy.   Lord, to you be all honor and glory, both now and forever.  In You alone we place our trust.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.”