ALL His Benefits

One last time, for the people who came in late! This is the list of benefits God has for His children, as listed in Psalm 103:

1. forgiveness for iniquity - read the post about it
2. healing for diseases - read the post about it
3. redemption from "the pit" - read the post about it
4. being crowned with "steadfast love and mercy" - read the post about it
5. being satisfied with "good" - specifically good health - read the post about it

Can I attempt a paraphrase of the list of benefits, based on what I've blogged about them? Here we go:

• God knows we struggle with our sin natures, and He pardons us when our motives are wrong.
  
• God provides healing for us when our bodies aren't working right.
  
• God knows that we were imprisoned and headed for ultimate destruction, and paid the price for our release.
• God's love is so deep, devoted, and unchanging that it completely surrounds us.
• God supplies us with things that are good for us, bring joy to our lives, and help us be strong as we make our way through life.

Picture in your mind a man or woman who is imprisoned and in chains. They are 100% guilty of what they have been accused of. They have been beaten and wounded during their crime and later as punishment for it, and they look decades older than they are because of what they have experienced. Now imagine that they are brought before a judge, That judge is God. God picks up his gavel, bangs it on the desk, and says, "I hereby pardon this person." Then God comes down to the person, touches them with His hands, and their wounds immediately disappear. He turns to the bailiff, and says, "Release them - I have paid back everything owed." The bailiff takes off their handcuffs, and instead God wraps the former prisoner in a luxurious robe of His love which they need never take off. Next He gives them a refreshing drink of the best water that has ever existed. When the person drinks the water, they visibly become more alert, their breathing is more calm, and they look back at God with eyes filled with peace.

That's you. That's the benefits God has provided. Don't let them pass you by!

 

Want to read the whole series in order? Click here to start from the beginning!