Relationship With God (Forgiveness)

Bless the Lord of my soul,

and forget not all his benefits

who forgives all your iniquity

who heals all your disease

Psalm 103:2-3

Through faith the promises of God become tangible realities. The truth of God's mercy and grace remains simply a truth until the Church becomes the legs for that truth to become proclaimed throughout the world. King David, in the midst of his own life full trials and tribulations reminds himself who God is. It's easy to shake a fist at God, to blame Him for the negative things going on, to demand justice, as if one could put God on trial and demand an explanation for things one doesn't understand. David could have done this. He had many really awful things that happened which would have given him "evidence against God" The reality of course is that the same God who isn't exacting "justice" on random bad guy who we think deserves it, is the same God that isn't exacting justice on you and me for the ungodliness within ourselves. 

The correct response is a recognition of our own inadequacy, faith that God is good and an intentional remembering of who He is and all that He has done, is doing and will do. In this posture of humility and grace we can fulfill  the command to forgive others as Christ has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32)  and experience the joy that heaven has when a sinner turns and repents. 

The quality of mercy is not strain'd,

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;

It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:

'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes

The throned monarch better than his crown;

His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,

The attribute to awe and majesty,

Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;

But mercy is above this sceptred sway;

It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,

It is an attribute to God himself;

And earthly power doth then show likest God's

When mercy seasons justice.