The Devotional – 1430 – Mercy and Truth – Departing!

The Devotional – 1430 – Mercy and Truth – Departing!

Proverbs 3:3 – Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart and so find favor and high esteem (good understanding) in the sight of God and man.

 

 Comments and challenges

When aboard Naval vessels in port it is common to hear over the loud speakers; the name of the ship and the following word – departing! In shipboard regulations and Navy tradition it is proper that when the Captain of the ship is departing that the entire ship’s crew on board at the time should know this. So the words; “USS Sailing Ship – Departing”. Thus with the captain ashore, the next senior officer usually the Executive Officer will have command of the ship.

Now what would the above paragraph have to do with you and me personally, well if I leave the paragraph alone… nothing at all since I am retired and maybe you are too. Then again maybe you have never been on a naval ship, but we do have a connection in another way. So stand-by (another naval term to “pay attention”)! Paying attention is something we fail at. We hear from our churches that God is Love and that is Good News meaning that it is impossible for God to hate us. I know someone is saying will the Word of God reveals that God hates sin and I am a sinner.

True God does hate sin; sin caused God to sacrifice His Son, His only begotten Son on the cross at Calvary, just outside of Jerusalem for the sin of the world. “Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over the land. And about the ninth hour JESUS cried out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is” My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Yes, God hates sin, but HE LOVES YOU as you are the home where the soul of His abides! (see Ezekiel 18:4, or better yet read the entire 18^th chapter).

We see from this passage in Matthew 27:46 a departure of another kind. The departure of the Sovereignty and Power of God (God the Father and God the Spirit) departing from the Human Body of God’s Son (Jesus) as He was left to bear that “sin of the world” ALONE. For me I understand that if God had not turned His back on His Son (had not departed) then Jesus could not have made the transition from life to death and the sacrifice would not have been complete.

This departure of the Almighty God allowed the “ruler of this world” (Satan) to believe that he had destroyed God and now he would be free to advance his kingdom even over “eternity” heaven itself (1 Corinthians 2:7-8). A mutiny which began before mankind was created is now in Satan’s mind completed and victorious with the death of Jesus Christ. The one thing that Satan missed in all of this was the full bodily resurrection of the LORD Jesus Christ three days later. Departure through death’s temporal victory gave way to God’s Eternal and permanent victory over Sin (AMEN) but Death also; (1 Corinthians 15:54-58). AND AGAIN… AMEN!

I wish that I had time to stay and write, tears are not absent in these thoughts. Such thoughts about God overwhelm my soul. So my beloved friends, companions and relatives (saints) and those who ought to be saints… do not forget the law (Word of God) but let your heart retain His commands. For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. Let not mercy and truth forsake you; (pay attention to His Word) do not set aside the Mercy and Truth of God. Hold tight to the Words He has given you in Christ. Better yet… write those Words on the tablet of your heart and let your soul rejoice.

If you are going to do any “texting” today make sure you “text” the Word of the Living God to your Soul as it is hungry for MERCY and TRUTH. Share this with a friend!