If you had to pick three adjectives to describe yourself, which words would you choose?
For me, I would say, “Hi, my name is Scott. I’m a fast-talker, a loud-laugher, and a word-lover.”
For those of you rule-followers out there, yes I did bend my own rules. My three words were all hyphenated. In my defense, I created this exercise, so I get to decide how to enforce the rules!
The three “words” I used all describe things I consider strengths. They are things I’m proud of. My guess is the words you chose about yourself would fall in a similar vein.
With that as a warm-up, I have a second exercise for you to consider. Complete the following sentence. “God is more ___________________ than I am.”
What words are coming to mind for you? For me, it’s a long list!
God is more merciful, compassionate, forgiving, patient, gracious, loving, righteous, and holy than I am. I stopped at eight words there, but I could have gone on for a long time. I bet you could too!
This month at Air1, our Worship Now theme is The Redeemer. We’re looking at how God is The Redeemer. This quality of God is certainly something we are not. None of us can redeem the life of another as God can.
In the book of Isaiah, the prophet speaks God’s revelation to His people.
“I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.”
It’s amazing to consider how God has forgiven our sins. In the Old Testament, God forgave through the sacrificial system carried out at the temple. In Jesus, the final sacrifice was made and all of us can be forgiven through the price Jesus paid for our freedom.
In addition to being The Redeemer, God is also The Reconciler. He not only forgives our sins; He also seeks reconciliation with us, so that our relationship may be as it was before we sinned. God longs to reconcile with us because He has redeemed us.
This is another place where God is “more ___________ than us.” Have you been hurt by someone you loved, trusted, respected, or allowed to have intimate access in your life? Me too. Many times.
Like you, I confess that I’ve not longed for God to redeem them, but rather for God to carry out justice against them for how they hurt me. I certainly didn’t want them to experience reconciliation with God, much less with me. The wounds they created led me to deep anger and resentment. Perhaps you can relate.
But, the good news is that God is not like me and God is not like you. In 2 Peter 3:9, we read about God’s unique heart.
“The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”
God wants everyone to repent. God wants everyone to be redeemed and reconciled to Him. One of the reasons I believe we struggle so long with reconciliation with others who’ve hurt us is our own struggle to believe that is God’s heart towards us.
When I’ve made a major mess of things because of my own sin, I’m often like the lost son Jesus described in Luke 15. I believe I’m not worthy of my Father’s love and I think my best option is to go home groveling with the hope that I can become a servant.
Again, let me remind you; God is better than you hope for and His heart is more loving, compassionate, and forgiving than yours. He not only has made it possible for us to be redeemed; He also makes it possible for us to come home and be restored.
Now, for some of us, restoration of certain relationships won’t happen in this life. This could be because the other person has died or they are unwilling to join us in the restoration work. This could also be due to the danger that would be presented if we pursued reconciliation. Reconciling with a person who is unsafe or who has abused us without tremendous evidence of repentance and transformation is not a wise move. Unlike us, God is never in danger and does not need to be protected.
I share this reminder about God’s character with you today because it encourages me to know God is better than me. It lifts my spirit to be reminded of God’s character when I’ve been overwhelmingly exposed to the brokenness and depravity of mankind.
Listening to worship music is one way we can remind ourselves of who God is. For example, the song "Same God" by Elevation Worship walks us through the way God worked in the lives of men and women whose stories we read in the Bible. "Same God" reminds us that God has not changed and what He did in their lives, He can do in ours.
Like the father in the parable Jesus told in Luke 15, He’s waiting and watching for you to turn towards Him. He’s longing for you to turn towards home, so He can redeem and restore you. Come home today!
Scott Savage is a pastor and a writer. He leads Cornerstone Church in Prescott, Arizona. Scott is married to Dani and they are the parents of three “little savages.” He loves helping hurting people forgive others through his Free to Forgive course and you can read more of his writing at scottsavagelive.com.
