Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy.
Micah 7:18
Just as we have studied throughout last week; Micah again calls us to remember the saving Grace that defines our Lord… No other god sent His only begotten son to die the most humiliating death known to man… No other god laid down his life and rose three days later… These things all point to the mercies that God pours out every morning upon His creation and it’s because of these great things that Micah asked the question, “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity…” In reading this passage from Micah, I am reminded of a similar question that entered the minds of the Pharisees in the gospel of Matthew; it is in the 9th chapter of his book that you will find these verses:
Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over, and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man,“ Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Then the man got up and went home.
I recall this passage in today’s devotion to make the point that we serve a God who simply is above all others; just think about the paths that He has paved and doors that He has opened for you. It is because of these things that you too will utter the words found in this prophetic book of Micah… What other gods can you call on that have the power to save you, have the power over this earth and heaven? What other gods can you call on that have taken the form of man, walked this earth, and conquered death and the grave…? Even when Christ died, the love of the only true God still pardoned our iniquity… Isaiah 53:5 says, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Jesus was crushed so that we could be saved, He died that we might live and He paid the ultimate price so that we could go free… Do you know of any other god that loved you enough to sacrifice the life of His own son…? Again Micah is asking a question which has yet to be answered… “Who is a God like unto thee”, the mercies that have been bestowed upon our lives are unmatched, the paths that have been laid by God could not be laid by anyone else and I am sure that we all can vouch for the iniquity (wickedness, evil, sin, and crime) that God has pardoned us from…
ALL FOR HIS GLORY!
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