Thurs., 9/27/18 Devotion (Ps. 78:38a, 39a)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 78, verses 38a & 39a, where we read these words:

"But [God], being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity . . . For He remem-bered that they were but flesh . . . "

Behold the amazing mercy and forbearance of God. In Ps. 78, the Lord's con-tinued kindnesses to a stubborn and rebellious people are rehearsed over and over. So it is true today: Christ's New Covenant church is also made up of people who are saints and yet still sinners. We need the grace and mercy of our Heavenly Father everyday.

Believers are also able to emulate their Lord: whereas God sees us as "but flesh”—let us remember that our fellow brothers and sisters in the church are also "but flesh," even as we are, as well. This should make us sympathetic to-ward one another; and it should arrest our tendency to be harsh with each another.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The Lord expects praise wherever you have com-fort.” —John Flavel, in, "The Mystery of Providence"]