Exodus 34:6 NKJV
“The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth.”
This self-declaration of God’s character to Moses reveals the very heart of our Creator. It comes at a crucial moment after Israel’s idolatry with the golden calf, showing that God’s nature is fundamentally one of mercy and grace, even in the face of our failures. God’s compassion remains steadfast, like a loving Father who disciplines his children but never withdraws his love.
Psalm 103:8 affirms these attributes of God by saying, “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” Lamentations 3:22-23 reminds us that His compassions “are new every morning.” Think of the story of the prodigal son, where the father’s compassion led him to run to his returning child – this is the heart of our God!
Understanding God’s compassionate heart should transform how we view Him and ourselves. His patience and love extend far beyond our shortcomings, just as it did for Peter even after his denial of Jesus. Let us confidently approach Him today, knowing His heart toward us is always compassionate and graceful. May we extend this same compassion to others, becoming living testimonies of His merciful nature.
