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Transcription
The Daily Devotion for April 9th, 2024 focuses on the theme of grace and mercy. The speaker reflects on the importance of receiving God's grace but also acknowledges their own double standard when it comes to extending grace to others. They encourage self-reflection and prayer to confront any attitudes of judgment and to learn to love others as God does. Welcome to Christchurch's Daily Devotion for April 9th, 2024. Today we will be reading from Psalms, chapter 86, verses 11 through 17. Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness. Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart. I will glorify your name forever. For great is your love toward me. You have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead. Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God. Ruthless people are trying to kill me. They have no regard for you. But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Turn to me and have mercy on me. Show your strength in behalf of your servant. Save me, because I serve you, just as my mother did. Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame. For you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. You may have automatically just sung the next lines, or even the rest of the song. And I bet as you did, you were stirred to thanksgiving at the grace and mercy that God has shown you. And rightly so. Grace is at the center of what we believe as followers of Jesus. And I will gladly take as much grace as possible. I read the words of Psalm 86 and breathe a sigh of relief that God is merciful and gracious. Slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. At least I feel relief as long as the grace and mercy is applied to me, or the people I love. Or at least the people that I like. However, when I see what I think is wrongdoing, whether that's in the headlines or someone's sin against me directly, I want nothing more than to see that person receive their due justice. As much as I don't want to admit it myself, to God or to you, I have a double standard. And really most of us do. Possibly even you. We rejoice at the grace we have received, whether that it is from God or from other people. But it often hits a nerve when others receive that same grace, especially when they absolutely don't deserve it. Don't get me wrong. It's not a bad thing to desire justice. But refusing to accept God's mercy to others, even after you have experienced his mercy yourself, will only hurt your soul in the end. Your personal worship option today, To take a walk today and ponder this desire for justice instead of mercy. It may be helpful to ask questions like, How are we like Jonah in this text? Where are we wanting God to be gracious and slow to anger with us? When we want God to react differently or more justly toward others. It may feel uncomfortable to examine your heart toward others. I ask God to help you confront those attitudes with honesty and courage and to teach you to love people in his way, with his heart.
