My God, my God / Why hast thou accepted me / You took my sin and wrapped me in / You robe and your ring / My God, my God / Why hast thou accepted me / It’s a mystery of mercy / And the song I sing
Today’s song bridges us from peace (last week’s topic) to love. This song is Andrew Peterson’s, from his album, “The Far Country”. It is moved along by Jesus word’s on the cross, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” – Matthew 27:45Matthew 27:45
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
The Death of Jesus
45 At noon the sky turned dark and stayed that way until three o'clock.
WP-Bible plugin. It is wed with an understanding of forgiveness motivated by the story of the prodigal son. The verses of the song repeatedly remind us of Jesus’ actions of love and acceptance; the woman at the well, the judgemental religious leaders and the adulterous woman, the harlot, the lepers healed.
All of these speak of Jesus’ love. Jesus’ love allows us the chance to start anew. It puts us in right relationship with him so that we can live in a new way. It is not ignorant or silly, overlooking the seriousness of sin. Instead, it is powerful and directed, helping the sinner move from their sin and shame to godly action. The love and mercy God provides are not the fruits of our labor, something we worked to receive. They are something we did not deserve, but rather, something that we experience because Jesus has stood in our place.
So Jesus used this illustration: “If you had one hundred sheep, and one of them strayed away and was lost in the wilderness, wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine others to go search for the lost one until you found it? And then you would joyfully carry it home on your shoulders. When you arrived, you would call to your friends and neighbors to rejoice with you because your lost sheep was found. In the same way, heaven will be happier over one lost sinner who returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!”
Luke 15:3-7Luke 15:3-7
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
3 Then Jesus told them this story: 4 If any of you has a hundred sheep, and one of them gets lost, what will you do? Won't you leave the ninety-nine in the field and go look for the lost sheep until you find it? 5 And when you find it, you will be so glad that you will put it on your shoulder 6 and carry it home. Then you will call in your friends and neighbors and say, “Let's celebrate! I've found my lost sheep.” 7 Jesus said, “In the same way there is more happiness in heaven because of one sinner who turns to God than over ninety-nine good people who don't need to.”
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Luke spends a great amount of time expressing the joy of heaven at even a single sinner saved. It is the proof of God’s saving activity! But for us personally, it is the experience of his love. It is how we know that he really does love us. We get to experience the guilt removed, though sometimes the consequences remain. We get a whole new relationship with God, not just new start at living up to God’s perfect standard.
Mercy and forgiveness are the outpouring of love. They are something we must receive first. But it is not supposed to end there. Jesus demonstrates love so that we might explore its depths. We are now called to turn around and offer love to everyone we come into contact with. And that means showing forgiveness and mercy – sometimes when we least want to. But the more we follow Jesus in this way, the more our hearts will become like his.
prayer
Peace, mercy, love. Take some time today to simply thank God for sending Jesus. For loving us enough to bridge the gap we could not on our own. Then think of someone in your life who is hard to love, or maybe even hard to forgive: a parent, a coworker, a one-time friend? Pray for God to work in your heart. Then pray that this person would experience God’s mercy, love and presence. It’s hard to be cold to another person made in God’s image when we are praying that they would experience God’s love and presence!
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