Sandy sits on the iron bench bolted to the sidewalk by Prink Avenue and finishes her cell phone conversation. The yellow Walk light has not yet flashed but she doesn’t care, she is an important person and she knows the drivers will wait. Unhesitatingly, she stands and moves into the crosswalk practically daring the cars to stop. Her spiritual life is much the same. Sandy approaches God and expects that He will listen to her because she is a good person and her list of accomplishments warrants in her mind, His favor.
Meditation
Daniel 9:18—Listen, my God, and hear. Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city called by Your name. For we are not presenting our petitions before You based on our righteous acts, but based on Your abundant compassion.
At a time in history of national shame, the Jews desperately needed God’s kindness. Daniel understood how to appeal to his Father. He knew that petitions backed by moral accomplishments could never repair the damage done by centuries of blatant spiritual rebellion. If cedar tabernacles filled with chanted psalms could undue sin, God would not have resorted to a crude cross. Daniel based his request for help on divine compassion—the Hebrew script bearing witness to its abundance.
Is God’s action dependent on our good works? Desolation is not removed by demonstration. Biblical characters like David appealed to God’s mercy based on personal righteousness. But do we ever read God replying “You are right, I owe you favor because you have been so good.” Instead, He reveals His grandeur and in the process human puniness and insufficiency lead the appealer to understand it is mercy and compassion that lead to salvation.
God’s compassion is the sweetest nectar known to man. It calms the anxious mind. It mends sin with a stitchery of golden thread that cannot be broken. It soothes the soul of sorrow with notes of grace. It clears the clotted heart with the redeeming blood of the holiest Lamb. At least seventy-seven times Scripture specifically mentions God’s compassion to His people. It is not about us it is all about Him! Hallelujah!
Inspiration
O Lord, remove this bondage of thought, and bring peace and purity and power. Fill me this day with Thy tenderness and compassion and grace.—Oswald Chambers
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About Me
- Meet Dan York
- Dan York is Founder and Director of First Cause, an international non-profit organization dedicated to leadership training throughout the world. Dan grew up as a missionary kid, living in Okinawa, Korea, Japan, the Philippines, and throughout the United States. In 1977, after graduating from Faith Academy in the Philippines, he was congressionally appointed to West Point. Following his graduation from West Point in 1981, he served with the 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division before joining the Army Reserves in 1986. He received a Master of Divinity from Bethel Seminary (West) and moved with his family to plant and pastor several ministries in Oregon, most recently The Road Home Fellowship in Newberg. He is the author of two books on spiritual growth, I Keep Asking and I Pray Also, and a recent 365 day devotional called Someting to Think About ... in Reveration. Dan recorded seven albums of original music. The latest CD, Where Were You, releases early in 2010. Currently, he serves as a Brigadier General commanding the 104th Division located in Washington. He is married to Kathleen, and is the father of two sons, Bryan and Stephen and one daughter,Sarah.
©2000-2010 Daniel York ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause. If you would like to receive these devotionals click on the sign-up button at the top of the page. Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.