Jude 2 (NET): May mercy, peace, and love be lavished on you!

Sometimes when reading scripture for private study or when counseling others, it is helpful to look at the antithesis.

You could have cruelty, conflict and hate, and that in unstinted measures.

Sometimes we feel as if this is true, that we are in deep languish. At times we may suffer from our sins, the sins of others or within our existence in this cursed world. Sometimes it feels unstinted, or unrelenting. We can’t even see out of darkness let alone find a way out.

Other times we have hoped this for our enemies, or those that wrong us. We cringe at their happiness and long to see judgement. At times it may even be warranted, when their evil towards us is so great it would seem holy to want God to pour out His wrath on them.

Truth is, no matter what our circumstances- Gods character does not change. His attributes are always according to his perfect nature, according to who He is. 

Yes, He is a vengeful God but He is also the God who loves us incomprehensibly!

And for those of us that he has called, loved and kept…. He truly shows unrelenting mercy, peace and love… He lavishes us in His goodness.

But this is the hard part. This is always true. Even in our worst times- like Job.

And like Job we must learn Gods economy doesn’t work off the retribution principle. We don’t get what we deserve- and thank God for that! 

The world emphatically deserves cruelty, conflict and hate. Roman’s 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

So thank God for his mercy, peace and love as it has most ultimately come in Christ. Let’s pray for our enemies that they may receive Him. Let’s remember in our worst days to turn to Him, for He is the ever present light that overcomes all darkness. The love that overcomes all hate.