Scripture
Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you,
and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
blessed are all those who wait for him. (Isaiah 30:18, ESV)
Thoughts
God waits? Yes, God is waiting to be gracious to us. That’s why he isn’t moving as fast as we think he should be moving. Our gracious God knows that once he pulls the plug on this earth, his justice will kick in, so he desires to show mercy as long as he can.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9, ESV)
These two verses are amazingly similar. God isn’t slow. He truly desires to show mercy, not wishing that anyone should perish. He desires the entire human race to come to repentance. He is waiting because he is gracious. What should our response be? We should, in turn, wait patiently for him. We should not lose heart.
Application
In view of God’s justice, how might you change the way you view your enemy? Do you want him or her to experience the wrath of God? Do you want to take vengeance yourself? I want to encourage you: because God is gracious, you can ask him to help you to be gracious in your relationships.
Prayer
Lord, I recognize that you are a gracious God. Help me to express your grace to others…. Continue praying.
P. Brian Noble