God's Grace Is Always Present

“I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.” (Isa 63:7 AV)

When we stop and think how our lives could be without the grace of God, we realize even though we know life could be better, it is far better than we deserve.  If there are any negatives, the majority are of our own making.  And that is also a grace from God.  The fact that He requires we learn from our mistakes and in the process, are conformed to the image if His Son, is in itself a mercy.  Israel did not, and will not have, and easy road.  They suffered much for their choices.  The vast majority of hardships were consequences of a lack of faith and direct disobedience.  Like the majority of us, we tend to learn the hard way.  Yet, when we consider the alternative, God has been very gracious.  His lovingkindness has exceeded what we can perceive.

My father had a way of pushing us to our limits.  Whether it was camping trips and Scouting activities, or work around the house, or that dreaded paper route in the snow belt; he had a way of allowing circumstances to measure our strength.  He punishments were also not that easy to bare.  Often severe, they were meant to teach a lesson that would save us from future hardships worse than the chastening we received.  At the time, it was difficult to see how these were motivated by love.  But they were.  At least that is the conclusion we come to.

If we cannot see the lovingkindness of the LORD nor His tender mercies, we are simply choosing to look at the wrong things.  God will restore Israel.  She will accept her Messiah.  She will not make the same mistake twice.  God will honor His unconditional covenants with His chosen people.  The mercies of God will reign again.  How much truer is that for the children of God?  How much more applicable is that for the bride of Christ?  The mercy available to Israel is also in force for the saints.  We just have to look for it.