Let’s Not Forget!

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits (Ps. 103:2).

When you read the history of the Israelites you see that they tended to forget God as well as His kindness towards them. If we’re not careful, we will do the same. As His children, God has blessed us in so many ways. In Psalm 103, David reminds us of some of His blessings: who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s (Ps. 103:3-5). In these few verses, David reminds us that…

1.  God forgives us (v. 3). Israel had sinned time and time again and yet God forgave them. If we are honest, we would have to admit that we too have sinned against God time and time again; yet He forgives us. In addition, He heals all our diseases—He restores our moral and spiritual life. David adds, as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us (Ps. 103:12). God’s forgiveness is complete and sure.

2.  God redeems us (v. 4). God set the Israelites free from certain death in Egypt. We who have come to God by faith through Jesus for salvation have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus. We have been set free from sin and sin’s penalty, which is death (see Rom. 6:23). According to David, God does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities (Ps. 103:10). God in His amazing grace and endless mercy has set us free.

3.  God crowns us (v. 4). In His grace, God surrounds or envelopes His children with His loyal, steadfast love and mercy. In fact, David goes on to write, For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him (Ps. 103:11). Thank God for His steadfast love!

4.  God satisfies us (v. 5). God brings contentment to the lives of His children by constantly caring for and providing for us. Since God created us He knows our needs, and in turn, meets our needs. He satisfies us with good things.

As we look back in history, both in the lives of the Israelites, as well as in our own lives, we can trace God’s mercy, grace, kindness, love, and compassion. So, let’s not forget God or His many benefits! Let’s say with the psalmist David, Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name (Ps. 103:1).

It’s Time To Drop The Stones

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were constantly testing Jesus in order to bring some charge against Him. One day while Jesus was in the temple the religious leaders brought a woman who had been caught in adultery. The leaders said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” (John 8:4, 5). The next scene is unexpected, at least to the religious leaders:

Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground (John 8:6, 7-8).   

I’m sure you could have heard a pin drop. Jesus responded with great wisdom, and in so doing, left the religious leaders speechless. What was their reaction? But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him (John 8:9). Not one accuser who stood in the temple that day was without sin. Not one accuser remained. Not one stone was thrown.

I love what happened next:

Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more” (John 8:10-11).

Jesus, the only One who was without sin, did not stone her. Neither did He condemn her. Rather, He extended grace and a challenge: “Go, and from now on sin no more.”  We can only imagine how she must have felt. According to the Law, she deserved to be stoned, yet not one stone was thrown. She was guilty of adultery, yet not one word of condemnation was spoken. Only grace and a challenge. 

It’s time to drop the stones. It’s time to follow Jesus’ example, speaking words of grace rather than words of condemnation.