Marie’s daily verse: Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity (Psalm 133:1).

DAILY DEVOTIONS, September 1, 2024

Psalm 100:5: For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations (NKJV).

Talk about good news! The Psalmist drives it home about the nature of God. The God we worship is not capricious, not good today but not so good tomorrow. He is always good, eternally good. That means He will always be and eternally good to you. Then, we are told His mercy is not temporary, not fleeting. It is everlasting, eternal. How long is everlasting? Well, it means His mercy will last forever. God is always merciful, eternally merciful. Do I need God’s mercy today? Yes, I do. What about tomorrow? Yes, I will need God’s mercy tomorrow. In His Son, Jesus, God has not just showered us with mercy but with everlasting mercy. As we place our trust in Jesus, we receive mercy, the forgiveness of sins, and the promise of eternal life. And when can we count on God’s truthfulness? Maybe sometimes He deceives us. His truth is not temporary, not deceptive. It endures forever, eternally. As we read God’s word and put it into practice, we live on the side of eternal truth.

Yet, if God is good, merciful, and truthful, how does the concept of hell fit into this picture? God has revealed His nature to us and given us the power of choice. He invites us to trust His goodness, mercy, and truthfulness by accepting His Son. But what if we reject His mercy? What awaits those who reject God entirely? He has truthfully informed us that a place exists for those who choose to live apart from Him, but it is not a pleasant place. Hell is devoid of the goodness, mercy, and truthfulness of God, which makes it inherently unpleasant. God has done everything necessary to redeem us. Those who believe in His Son will bask in His goodness forever.

My Heavenly Father, I am profoundly grateful for how You have revealed Yourself to us. I am thankful that I can depend on Your unwavering goodness, mercy, and truth. I am incredibly thankful that all of Your goodness is embodied in Jesus, our Savior. I wholeheartedly believe that He is Your Son, my Savior. I accept the mercy You offer me through His death and resurrection. I pray that Your name will be glorified forever, in the name of Jesus, Amen.