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Today we will read Psalm 103:15-19. It says, “As for man, his days are like grass - he blooms like a flower of the field; when the wind passes over it, it vanishes, and its place is no longer known. But from eternity to eternity the LORD’s faithful love is toward those who fear Him, and His righteousness toward the grandchildren of those who keep His covenant, who remember to observe His precepts. The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.”

Everything you and I experience in this world is man-focused. We see everything through our eyes, and process it in our brains. We work feverishly to feed ourselves and our families, to make a name, to get along and negotiate with others, and vainly cling to the life that is rapidly slipping through our fingers.

Yes you will bloom like a beautiful flower. You’ll have your moment in the sun and all will look on you and your talents and your accomplishments and applaud. And just as quickly as the accolades come they will fade and move along to another - younger - better. And you will fade as the flower does. Eventually you’ll pass on and just perhaps be remembered by a generation or two before your memory fades into oblivion.

And then there’s God - solid - unchanging - forever. He’s always been here and always will. And fortunately for us fading humans, He is a God “Hesed” - of faithful, enduring, loyal love. You may fade, He does not. You’re unfaithful, He is faithful. You lack love - He has it all. You do not have the capacity to keep the little you have - while He is the unshakable King of an unshakable Kingdom.

So you have a choice to make today. What will you invest in? Can you keep the bloom alive? Can you keep the flower from fading? Of course not. Enjoy it for what is and embrace its imminent demise. But fix your thoughts, attention, devotion, obedience, and energy on the One who not only has it all, but desires to share it with you, and your children’s children. What good reason do you have then to not seek God? No one likes to think about our limits. But it’s as obvious as the rising and setting of the sun. Get a jump now on being a member of God’s Kingdom. And just see what He does with you.

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We’re continuing in our reading of Psalm 103 - a psalm of David. This is a beautiful and encouraging psalm. If you’re new, you might want to check out the last few episodes on Psalm 103. We’ve been encouraged to praise God - our ultimate healer - a God full of benefits - who enacts real justice. Even now, go ahead and take a few seconds and repeat after me out loud. Say, “I praise You God - my healer - in You I have everything.”

Today we’re looking at verses 11-14 which say, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His faithful love toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. For He knows what we are made of, remembering that we are dust.”

How much do you think God loves you? Not someone else. Not someone more deserving. You - how much do you think God loves you? You wouldn’t believe it if I told you. It’s a lot. In fact its infinite. It’s as high as the heavens are above the earth. No one could measure that. That’s how much God loves you - yes you!

But what about all the stupid junk you’ve done? Maybe even yesterday, or 30 seconds ago? Isn’t He mad? Doesn’t it tarnish how He loves? Hardly. You just don’t understand the love of God yet. He has separated you from all your stupid junk as far as the east is from the west. Not sure if you’ve noticed, but there’s a limit to north and south. You can only go so far north and then you have to go south. But you can go east or west forever and ever. He has separated you from your sin by that much.

But isn’t He a mighty King? A powerful and holy sovereign? Isn’t He to be dreaded? Shouldn’t you cower in his presence? Well, do you cower in your dads presence? He’s your father. A good father loves his children and God is the perfect father. He has compassion on you. No need to cower.

But doesn’t He have high expectations of us that we fail at moment to moment? Surely He sees us as pathetic and weak. Surely we have failed Him.

Well - sorta. It is true He has lofty “Plans” for us. But He is keenly aware of what He’s made. He loves, forgives, and has compassion on you knowing that you - and this may seem odd - are dust. You are a transitory temporary tenant here. You are fragile, earthy, and limited. There are reasons you are this way and there are accompanying weaknesses. But God is aware of all of them. His expectations of you take your entire context into account. He’s a much better Father than you can possibly imagine.

You have one responsibility. And it’s right there. Your job (if that’s even the right word) is to “fear” Him. We’ve addressed this word before. But for now just ask yourself, “what is it you fear?” Do you fear the recession, losing your job, getting sick, losing a loved one? You fear something and probably lots of things. But do you actually fear that which has real power? God has all the power and resources. Why not elevate your fear to one object? God Himself. And there find out that He is supremely wonderful. This is what your soul needs. And there is an infinite supply in God Himself.

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We’re continuing our time in Psalm 103. We began by praising God and then observed the incredible benefits we get in God. Perhaps listen to the last couple of episodes, or take a moment and say, “God I praise You. In You I have everything.” Go ahead…

Today we are looking at verses 6-10 which say, “The LORD executes acts of righteousness and justice for all the oppressed… The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and rich in faithful love. He will not always accuse us or be angry forever. He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our offenses.”

Some don’t like the idea of a punishing God. Others relish in it. But what is God actually like? Is He punitive? Is He permissive?

What would you want to God to be like if you could choose? At the very least, we want a God who is easy on us since we esteem ourselves as mild offenders. We prefer a light-handed God.

But do you want to live in a world where the victim is left holding the bag? Let’s say someone is murdered and God simply says, “I forgive you.” Who is paying the consequence? Well, it’d be the victim and their family. Or suppose the murderer is locked up, hung, or faces a firing squad - has justice been served? Has life been returned? Punishment has been meted out but has justice been restored?

These are the questions that haunt our souls because we are faced with such extreme suffering and injustice. Only God can be the solution to all of it. And here we see how.

The Lord does execute righteousness and justice for the oppressed. In other words, He restores the loss. He repays and restores. That’s nice - but what about when we’re the offender? Well, in that case He is gracious, slow to anger and rich in faithful love. While He accuses, and is angry, He’s not that way permanently. Other passages say this mercy is new every morning. Ultimately, He is lenient. He doesn’t treat us as we deserve. Are you grateful for that?

Ask yourself, are there any one of these characteristics of God that you wished were different? Is anything left unsatisfied? Only this God could truly bring all things back in order. But how? Well, the grand story of scripture, and certainly this one, is that in Jesus, all the injustice of the world, the righteousness, compassion, grace, and anger of God, came to a head and was dealt with in a thorough, God-sized way. How exactly? That’s for God to know. Our response is to marvel, praise, and express gratitude.

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Today we will continue in Psalm 103. We began by looking at verse 1 & 2 as an encouragement to our soul to praise God. Even now, take just a moment and encourage your own soul. You can simply say softly, “I praise You God, I praise You God, I praise You God.” Go ahead.

We continue in this Psalm in verses 3-5 which say, “He forgives all your sin; He heals all your diseases. He redeems your life from the Pit; He crowns you with faithful love and compassion. He satisfies you with goodness; your youth is renewed like the eagle.”

What sticks out to you as you hear these verses? Personally, it’s the “heals all your diseases” part. Great songs have been written on it. But He clearly doesn’t heal “all” diseases. At least not yet. Indeed some suffer with ailments for years until their physical bodies succumb. Perhaps some of us focus on the “diseases” because it’s the most visceral, most obvious.

But look at the other things God is doing…forgiving all your sin, redeeming your life from…well…whatever the Pit is. Crowning you with His love and compassion, satisfying you, renewing your youth and energy.

My goodness, if He’s truly doing these things, then what a God! Healing disease is the easiest bit. God is treating you and me like royalty. Do you want that? Do you want God?

We are strange people. We can tie our sense of wellbeing to facebook likes - people that can offer us nothing more than a passing bit of attention. Meanwhile the God of the Universe is giving us infinite attention and treasure. Just think about that.

But again, facebook likes, like diseases, are immediate, here and now, and fleeting. Whether or not a disease takes you or me today, or in 20 years remains to be seen. But in the heavenly’s and for all eternity, you have God Himself and all the benefits that come with Him. Be blessed and live in that light today.