Tuesday, November 13, 2012

a firmer foundation

Daniel 9:18


18 Listen, my God, and hear. Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city called by Your name. For we are not presenting our petitions before You based on our righteous acts, but based on Your abundant compassion.

If you want a raise at work, you had better be able to present a great case for why you are awesome and deserve that for which you petition.

If you want someone to forgive you, you had better be able to present a great case for why you are sorry and deserve to be forgiven.

This is how the world of man works. We all understand. We agree. We earn our keep. If we are owed more than we have, we prepare a case to lobby for our estimated wages. Quid pro quo. Your power, my persuasion. You have what I want or can accomplish what I ask. Here are the 10 reasons why you should do _____ for me.

This is NOT how the world of God works.

If you want something, you ask based on His generosity.
If you want forgiveness, you ask based on His mercy.

"For we are not presenting our petitions before You based on our righteous acts, but based on Your abundant compassion."

2 comments:

  1. That's such an amazing truth about God. He wants us to ask and He wants to give even though we don't deserve it at all. His compassion is ridiculously abundant. Thanks for the reminder.

    ReplyDelete
  2. wow, i've never 'seen' that before when i've read daniel. it's like we were talking about the other night - grace is so present in the old testament, but we forget that. (or have a hard time seeing it)

    ReplyDelete