Lamentations 4-5 / Hebrews 2 / Psalm 103 / Proverbs 26:23
There are negative messages around us all day, every day. It is the rare person who is filled with encouragement and strength because of the words of those around them. If you have that encouragement, count yourself amazingly blessed! Especially during the times in which we are living, there is so much negativity in the natural and spiritual realms that one must dig deep to access the strength the Lord brings.
Today’s inspiration is taken from Psalm 103:11-12, it tells us this: “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” New Living Translation, (NLT)
As high as the heavens are above the earth: this phrase does not refer only to the heavens we can see. It does not refer only to the place that the sun, moon, and stars reside. The heavens are the universe that has no end, as well as the dwelling place of God. I believe this phrase is speaking of an infinite quality, especially because God’s great love is being compared to the height of the heavens. God’s love cannot be measured.
There is a prayer in Ephesians chapter three that Paul prayed on behalf of the church in Ephesus. Part of that prayer in verse eighteen says this: “May you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is.” (NLT)
The love of God covers every area you could possibly consider. From the above description, God’s love covers all things. That sounds like encouragement and strength to me. This is an area we must rehearse and believe so we can combat the negativity thrown at us continuously. What else does the verse tell us?
Our loving God has removed our sins from us as far as the east is from the west. What does that mean? If you’ve ever traveled across the world or to the other side of the world, you know that you will eventually come right back to where you started if you keep traveling. I have traveled to Cambodia which is about halfway around the world from me in Knoxville, TN.
If I were to have kept traveling, I would have ended up home again. It’s as if God is saying, you can keep traveling in these circles from east to west (eventually you will not know whether you are traveling east or west) and you will never find the sins of which I’ve forgiven you. Our sins get lost in His love and forgiveness.
Micah 7:19 says, “Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!” (NLT)
That sounds violent! God hates our sin so much that He will trample them under His feet and throw them into the deep part of the ocean. He is destroying and burying our sin. He hates sin because of what it does to our souls and bodies. He knows that sin destroys us and that breaks His heart. That is how much God loves you.
Once again, I ask, do you feel encouraged and strengthened? When the world and people are weighing you down, remember these two things – His love and His forgiveness. Both are complete and cannot be changed. If you are in Christ, you are loved and forgiven, period.
