Grace That Removes Our Transgressions
Read Psalm 103:10-12 "He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us."
It’s easy to understand a start and an end—the end of a movie, the end of a year, the end of this sentence. But infinity is one of those ideas that’s hard to wrap our minds around. It’s like gazing up at a starry night sky that seems to stretch on forever. You can’t reach it, measure it, or find where it ends. Or imagine setting off to travel east; you’ll never suddenly find yourself going west. And for some of us, infinity might feel like the time it takes our kids to put their shoes on.
The point is, infinity is beyond us, and that’s exactly the word-picture David uses to describe the depth of God’s grace. Psalm 103 is a beloved psalm of thanksgiving written by King David. It celebrates the Lord’s compassion, forgiveness, and faithfulness, resting in the certainty of His covenant love. In verse 8, David praises God as merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy. Then, in verses 10–12, he offers a breathtaking picture of that grace in action.
God doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve. He doesn’t keep a record to hold over our heads. Instead, His lovingkindness stretches higher than the heavens, and He removes our sins as far as the east is from the west. His grace is freely given, no conditions. Just pure, unearned love.
This kind of grace is so different from how the world often works, where mistakes are held against us, and forgiveness is earned by good behavior. It’s not about what we’ve done or haven’t done; it’s about who He is. As hard as it is for our human minds to imagine, God’s mercy has no limit. His forgiveness knows no end.
So, if you’re carrying guilt or shame today, let this truth wash over you: God’s grace is bigger than any mistake, brighter than any darkness, and wider than any distance we could ever travel.
The point is, infinity is beyond us, and that’s exactly the word-picture David uses to describe the depth of God’s grace. Psalm 103 is a beloved psalm of thanksgiving written by King David. It celebrates the Lord’s compassion, forgiveness, and faithfulness, resting in the certainty of His covenant love. In verse 8, David praises God as merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy. Then, in verses 10–12, he offers a breathtaking picture of that grace in action.
God doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve. He doesn’t keep a record to hold over our heads. Instead, His lovingkindness stretches higher than the heavens, and He removes our sins as far as the east is from the west. His grace is freely given, no conditions. Just pure, unearned love.
This kind of grace is so different from how the world often works, where mistakes are held against us, and forgiveness is earned by good behavior. It’s not about what we’ve done or haven’t done; it’s about who He is. As hard as it is for our human minds to imagine, God’s mercy has no limit. His forgiveness knows no end.
So, if you’re carrying guilt or shame today, let this truth wash over you: God’s grace is bigger than any mistake, brighter than any darkness, and wider than any distance we could ever travel.
Reflection Questions:
- When have you struggled to believe that God’s forgiveness is truly free and unlimited?
- How does knowing that God removes your sins “as far as the east is from the west” change the way you view your past mistakes and failures?
- In what ways can you extend the same kind of grace and forgiveness to others that God freely gives to you?
Posted in Free- by the Grace of God
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