God Never Gives Up

 Nehemiah 9:17b (NIV)  But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them…

Nehemiah 9:31 (NIV)  But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.

            By means of a very brief background; Ezra had just finished reading from the Book of Law of Moses; Nehemiah the governor, along with the Ezra and other Levite priests and scribes, were weeping because of the sins of Israel; the Israelites came together to confess their sins.

Now it is an interesting side note found in the beginning verses of Nehemiah 9, that the Israelites read the Scriptures for “one fourth of the day and spent another fourth in confession and in worshiping the LORD their God.” [Perhaps we’ll leave the fact that many of us have difficulty getting up; getting dressed; and getting motivated for a one-hour service on Sunday morning for another devotional.]

Back to our thoughts for today—From Nehemiah 9:5-37 we find a detailed list of the major mistakes Israel had made. Over and over they revealed their stubborn and rebellious nature. Yet God never gave up on them! Nestled deep inside this passage we find verses of hope and encouragement. God is gracious. God is compassionate. God does not anger easily. God is abounding in love. God is merciful. God does not abandon. God does not desert.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            How humbly thankful we are for your loving compassion and mercy. When we fail to feel your presence, help us understand that it is we who have stepped aside for you do not abandon nor desert your own. Forgive our stubborn and rebellious nature. Bring us safely back into your arms of grace and comfort our hearts with your mercy.

            In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The devotional God Never Gives Up appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

 

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com