By Pastor Bob DeKlavon
Many people focus on the love of God.
Why not?
God’s grace and mercy and loving kindness are seemingly endless.
His greatest act of love came when we were at our very worst.
So it is that we get a bit surprised when God acts in fury or wrath.
We don’t like the thought of God’s justice rolling down like waters {Amos}.
Yet—that is the other side of the character of God.
Parents {good ones} display both sides all the time.
They show love and care and provide and give unconditionally all the time.
Yet, there are times when disobedience occurs and consequences follow.
Today, I was putting my 3 year old down for a nap.
We had had a splendid day but now he wanted to nap with a Lego building.
This was something his brother had built years ago with a gazillion small parts.
I told Malachi he could not take the building with him.
Obviously, he could not reason out small parts, etc. He just wanted the building.
SO—when he is disobedient—he sits in ‘reflection’ to think about ‘things.’
I told him I was going to send him there if he did not put down the building.
Instead, he put himself in reflection ‘while holding the building.’
In between my stifled laughing, I finally got him to bed without incident.
Yet—my character had to show up in both ways or there would be greater trouble later.
I was reading Psalm 40, written by David, and noticed again God’s ‘2-sided’ character.
You, O Lord, will not withhold Your compassion from me; [a]Your lovingkindness and Your truth will continually preserve me.
We like this side of God’s character.
He is compassionate and shows loving kindness to those who are His own.
However, David continues in the following way: 12 For evils beyond number have surrounded me; My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see; They are more numerous than the hairs of my head, And my heart has [b]failed me.
This Sunday, we will be looking again at Psalm 90 while noticing the 2 sides of God’s character.
Think about the love and care and grace He poured out upon Israel.
Yet—they disobeyed and feared the giants and God had enough.
No more Mr. Gracious God—now, justice came down which is what we deserve all the time.
Yet, God—rich in kindness and grace—don’t take it for granted………….right?