Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.” (Exodus 34:5-7)
I am still the compassionate and gracious God. This means five important things to those who want to know me more:
— I am slow to anger. This doesn’t mean that I am never displeased or that I never become angry, but that it is a very slow process in me. This slow pace gives every man and woman ample time to recognize the areas in their lives where they are displeasing to me, to come for forgiveness and cleansing. Slow anger does not give a license to sin, but the space needed to repent.
— I am abounding in love. My love for you is so great that it is overflowing and has the ability to flood and overpower every single thing that would come against you. Nothing can stand in the path of my abounding love, for it encompasses and embraces and sweeps up everyone who will receive it.
— I am abounding in faithfulness. Just as my love is so great that it overflows and floods all the territory around it, so also is my faithfulness. I will always keep the faith with you, and I want to fill you with the understanding that I will never ever leave you nor forsake you. I am the faithful friend who stands by you even in the times when you don’t deserve to be stood by.
— I am a maintainer of love. Love is never a static condition but needs constant maintenance and repair. I promise to keep our love relationship well maintained and ever-growing for all of eternity. This relationship will always be one that is ever growing deeper and ever branching out in its structure and in its beauty.
— I am the forgiver of wickedness, rebellion and sin. I choose not to be the condemner but the forgiver, for it is my kindness that brings a person to repentance. I want my children to look into my face and see, not the face of a judge, but the face of a Savior.
I revealed myself to Moses that day, and this revelation of my character was just as important as the 10 Commandments that I revealed and wrote on the stone tablets. My children need both revelations to grow in their relationship with me, the revelation of who I am and the revelation of what I require. Both of these revelations came to life in Jesus and both must be proclaimed to those who are far from me.
— January 30. 2021