“I am a Christian, not because someone explained the nuts and bolts of Christianity, but because there were people willing to be nuts and bolts.” – Rich Mullins

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Listen to my song “I Will Give You Rest” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

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Psalm 103: 8-10

Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger, abounding in mercy. He will not always accuse, and nurses no lasting anger; He has not dealt with us as our sins merit, nor requited us as our wrongs deserve.

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People seem to have such a hard time believing that God is merciful.

They seem to prefer a God of vengeance which, of course, would give them license to also be vengeful.

However, scripture tells us God is love (1 John 4:8).

While the God of the Old Testament is perceived to have done some horribly vicious things, these are only the interpretations of people who were trying to make sense of life.

Their consciousness of “God” was in development.

When Jesus came along, he provided more clarity.

He said that if you knew him then you would know God (John 8:18-19).

Jesus reflected a God of compassion and mercy.

He also reflected a God of justice, but not of punitive or retributive justice.

Jesus’ justice was restorative.

We see this most clearly in the story of the woman caught in adultery.

Here, Jesus told the men who wanted to stone the woman that the one without sin should cast the first stone (John 8:1-11).

When they all dropped their stones and left, Jesus told the woman that he didn’t condemn her, but she should go and not sin any more.

This gave her the mercy she needed to change her ways and be restored.

It wasn’t a free pass to live a sinful life.

Basically, such a life would lead to the ruin she had found herself in.

It wouldn’t have caused God to love her any less, but she would have ended up quite miserable living as a “false self” and not as the “true self” she was meant to be.

As the true self, we live our lives serving others through the unique talents we were given and spreading love and forgiveness.

In doing so, we contribute in bringing about what Jesus called “the kingdom of God” in the here and now.

So, if you are struggling and yearning to break the chains binding you from the addictions and delusions of your false self, hear the words of Jesus: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Allow the Unconditional Love of the universe to transform you.

Then, be that love in the world.

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Listen to the song of the day “I Will Give You Rest” on the Live to Love album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Remember: God loves you!