Nov. 24
PARDON AND FORGIVENESS
"He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever"
Ps. 103:9
He will chide sometimes, or He would not be a wise Father for such
poor erring children as we are. His chiding is very painful to those
who are true, because they feel how sadly they deserve it, and how
wrong it is on their part to grieve Him. We know what this chiding
means, and we bow before the Lord, mourning that we should cause Him
to be angry with us.
But what a comfort we find in these lines! "Not always" will He
chide. If we repent and turn to Him with hearts broken for sin and
broken from sin, He will smile upon us at once. It is no pleasure to
Him to turn a frowning face toward those whom He loves with all His
heart: it is His joy that our joy should be full.
Come, let us seek His face. There is no reason for despair, nor
even for despondency. Let us love a chiding God, and before long we
shall sing: "Thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortest me."
Begone, ye dark forebodings, ye ravens of the soul! Come in, ye humble
hopes and grateful memories, ye doves of the heart! He who pardoned us
long ago as a judge, will again forgive us as a father, and we shall
rejoice in His sweet, unchanging love.