The Secret Sauce

 

Often I used to wonder, why does God forgive, protect and bless us in spite of the fact that we humans are sinful and imperfect and miss the high standard of God’s holiness all the time. 

As simple as it may sound, I struggle with the very first commandment, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Neither do I fare any better when it comes to loving my neighbor as myself. Many a time I ponder, “Why is God so gracious to us”? Sometimes we even question, will God be gracious to us no matter what we do, can we get away doing whatever we want? 

But when I read this verse in Psalm 103:11, it was as though I discovered the “Secret Sauce” behind God’s goodness and mercy to us.

“For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him.”

His mercy is toward those who fear Him. And His wrath is for those who do not fear Him and for the wicked who despise Him and rebel against Him.

Deuteronomy 10:12 says

“What does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”

According to the above verse, God requires us to fear (i.e. rever) Him. There are billions of people on the earth today. But isn’t it amazing that God is mindful of us? He watches our ways, knows our thoughts & attitudes and eagerly yearns for us to love & obey Him.  This is the reason that Proverbs 1:7 declares

“Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. But fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

It warns us not to foolishly reject His love grace. God further adds these promises to those who seek Him diligently. Psalm 91:9,10 proclaim

“Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, 
even the Most High, your dwelling place, 
No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling.

This is such a powerful promise that most of us have claimed and experienced especially during the pandemic season. And Psalm 91:14 further adds:

“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him:
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.”

Just knowing the LORD and choosing to love Him, is reason enough for Him to deliver us and set us on high (to lift us and bless us). And the psalmist so beautifully encourages us in Psalm 95:6:

Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. 
For He is our God, 
And we are the people of His pasture.

Our God’s heart is overflowing with love for His creation. He waits for us to acknowledge him, seek Him, love Him and obey Him. He takes joy in forgiving us, blessing us, guiding us, and rejoicing over us with His faithful love. 

But His heart aches when we reject Him and rebel against Him and become the objects of His wrath. He warns us in Psalm 95: 7,8 and 11

Today, if you will hear His voice:
Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion (Meribah), 
As in the day of trial (Massah) in the wilderness.

So I swore in My wrath,
“They shall not enter My rest”

So today would you choose to remove the Marah (bitterness) of rebellion and make your life sweeter by adding this secret sauce of “Fear of the Lord” and enjoy His grace. God bless you.

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