The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
“Gracious, Righteous, Merciful”
Our memory verse for the week speaks of three sublime qualities of our Lord’s character, nature, and way.
"Gracious is the Lord, and righteous. Yea, our God is merciful."
(Psalm 116:5).
First, the Psalmist declares God to be gracious. He desires to bestow favor on others by drawing them into acceptable relationship and fellowship with Himself. The Apostle Paul confirms such wonder in the salutations of his epistles: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:7). Our Heavenly Father loves communion with human hearts, including yours and mine. It matters not how and how often we may have sinned against Him. If we will respond to His overtures of grace communicated by His Spirit, His Word, and His church, He will establish or further the bond of Heart to heart He desires with all. “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20).
This grace “reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” God cannot violate His character and nature when graciously leading human hearts to Himself. He must be true to Himself even as He is gracious to us. This made necessary the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus in becoming human, living the most challenging human life ever known, and then righteously becoming “obedient, even to the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). Atonement for sin had to be made. A price had to be paid for the grace offered freely to all, but which cost God the highest price ever remitted. His righteousness demanded no less, that is, the character that He cannot and will not violate even as He so freely pardons sin and redeems sinners. “The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works” (Psalm 145:17). Thus, we may come freely and confidently by the cross that most vividly displayed both the grace and righteousness of God. However, we must be sure we make our approach by this singular way that cost the Father the life of His Son, this way of the freest gift ever given, purchased by the highest cost ever remitted.
Finally, “our God is merciful.” No four words of Scripture should more amaze us, thrill us, fill us, fascinate us, inspire us, and motivate us to draw as near to the heart of our gracious and righteous Lord. Our Heavenly Father loves to forgive. “He delighteth in mercy” (Micah 7:18). He runs to bestow pardon on the penitent (Luke 15:20). “He is ready to forgive,” and no sinner or saint has ever had to drag mercy from the heart of God, so long as he approaches by way of His gracious righteousness, and righteous grace (Psalm 86:5). “"Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and Thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds” (Psalm 36:5)
Gracious, righteous, and merciful. A long eternity will not suffice in fully revealing all the glory of this trinity of character, nature, and way. This day is part of that forever, and we do well to ask our Lord yet again, “What of grace, Father? What of righteousness? What of mercy?” He will gladly respond, and as this day ends, we will yet again have been amazed, thrilled, filled, fascinated, inspired, and motivated by the grace, righteousness, and mercy that comprises who our God is, and what He does.
“The Lord is gracious… the Lord is righteous… the Lord is merciful.”
(Psalm 111:4; 129:4; 103:8)
Weekly Memory Verse
"Gracious is the Lord, and righteous. Yea, our God is merciful."
(Psalm 116:5).
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