A Slate Wiped Completely CLEAN!!!
I wonder:
- When was the last time we danced in the aisle of the department store?
- When did we become overjoyed due to a purchase price, maybe even because of a discounted price?
- When did we experience earthly joy, just because a decision went our way?
- While there are opportunities to receive temporary, earthly joy, there is truly only one way to receive lasting JOY!
“Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity
(Micah 7: 18-19 NASB 1995 Translation)
And passes over the rebellious act of
the remnant of His possession?
He does not retain His anger forever,
Because
He delights in unchanging love.
He will again have compassion on us;
He will tread our iniquities under
foot.
Yes, You will cast all their sins
Into the depths of the sea.”
When I first read this passage this morning, I wanted to dance, twirl, raise up my hands over my head, and smile all over my face.
Think of the many ways the LORD has redeemed us in Christ!
“As far as the east is from the west,”
&
“So far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
“Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity . . .”
&
Gives His Chosen A Slate Wiped Completely CLEAN!!!
- When was the last time we danced?
- When was the last time we twirled & raised our hands high in praise?
- When was the last time we shouted for JOY? “Thank You LORD for saving a sinner such as me.”
- When were we resonated with such immense JOY that we could not help but smile all over our face?
- When was our whole being so overfilled with JOY that others looked at us strangely but asked us the reason for our JOY just the same?
- When was the last time we REALLY SHARED with another living soul the REASON for our JOY?!!!
The melody that comes to mind is CeCe Winans’ song—“I’ve God Joy.” Grab your earbuds, stand up, twirl, dance, lift your hands, and sing PRAISE TO THE LORD!
Since 2018, I have been afforded the amazing opportunity to travel abroad a few times, and when I go to The Netherlands or when Germany was the destination, the airplane pilot flew EAST. That was the most-direct & most-economical way to travel. There has been a particular time when my ticket required that I fly two hours westward first before boarding an international flight to fly eastward toward Europe. Let me tell you; those 120+ extra minutes were felt!
Let me also say that even though I have been blessed to fly east to visit and hug, I have never flown further eastward, flying completely around the globe, in order to return home. THANK GOODNESS! That journey home would have been extremely long and expensive; nevertheless, as I read this psalm of David, I come face-to-face with EXACTLY WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US THROUGH JESUS!
“As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12 NASB 1995 Translation)
- Can we shout—“HALLELUJAH!”
- Can we dance, twirl, raise our voices and lift our hands!
- Can we share this AMAZING LOVE of GOD with another person today!
If we are totally honest, maybe we have reserved our joy for earthly sales, discounted items, close parking spots, or any other earthly thing—when our time with JESUS IS BEST OF ALL!
“Thus says the Lord God, . . .”
(Ezekiel 36: 33a & 24-29a NASB 1995 Translation)
[God is speaking to the house of Israel &
God is also speaking to each person HE has created.]
“For I will take you from the nations,
gather you from all the lands and bring you
into your own land.
Then I will sprinkle clean water on you,
and you will be clean;
I will cleanse you from
all your filthiness and from all your idols.
Moreover, I will give you a new heart
and put a new spirit within you;
and I will
remove the heart of stone from your flesh
and give you a heart of flesh.
I will put My Spirit within you and cause
you to walk in My statutes, and you will be
careful to observe My ordinances.
You will live in a land that I gave to
your forefathers;
so you will be My people,
and I will be your God.
Moreover, I will save you from all your uncleanness; . . .”
- When was the last time we REALLY SHARED with another living soul the REASON for our JOY?!!!
- Can we truly enumerate the many ways the LORD has redeemed us in Christ?!!!
“Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity . . .”
- Who “will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.”
- Who “will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; . . .”
The LORD ALMIGHTY Gives His Chosen A Slate Wiped Completely CLEAN!!!
“He does not retain His anger forever,
(Micah 7: 18b-19 NASB 1995 Translation)
Because
He delights in unchanging love.
He will again have compassion on us;
He will tread our iniquities under foot.
Yes, You will cast all their sins
Into the depths of the sea.”