PURE DELIGHT | KAIROS GLOBAL | AUGUST 2021

Author: Anil Israel

Intro: Through Scripture, Anil Israel shows us the steadfast love of our God, who is also the God of multiple chances.

One of my favourite Bible verses is from the book of Lamentations highlighting God’s steadfast love. The Lord’s unfailing love and mercy still continue, fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise. The Lord is all I have, and so in him I put my hope (Lamentations 3:22-24). Hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is Mercy (Psalm 130:7). All throughout scripture we find several instances of God’s everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3). When Cain murdered his brother Abel, God’s divine protection prevented anyone from killing him. After committing adultery with Bathsheba and on being reminded by Prophet Nathan of his sinfulness, King David pleaded to God for pardon. God did not refrain from establishing the Davidic covenant: I will establish your descendants forever and build your throne for all generations (Psalm 89:4).

In the New Testament too we find how Jesus’ compassion on Zacchaeus paves the way for his conversion and thereby bringing Salvation to his house (cf. Luke 19:9). He even expelled seven demons from Mary Magdalene (cf. Luke 8:2). And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me (John 6:39). I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance (Mark 2:17). For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). The Good Shepherd leaves the ninety-nine behind and goes out in search of the lost sheep – me. Our God is truly a God of second chances. Not only second chances but multiple chances. The earth is full of the mercy of the Lord (Psalm 33:5). With a strong hand and an outstretched arm, his love endures forever (Psalm 136:12). The entire Bible is an incredible love letter from Father God to aching mankind.

God desires that we open the door of our hearts and welcome him to take control of our lives. God’s loving invitation to partnership with him, somehow seems to have gone unheard. The gentle prompting of the Holy Spirit somehow ends up being ignored. My unwillingness to acknowledge that I ought to change, prevents the unchanging God from accomplishing his best out of undying love for me.

I am reminded of my initial endeavour in trying to get the navigation from my smartphone projected on our car display. Connecting a smartphone to our car only showed that the phone was charging, but we were unable to use it for navigation. My initial thought was either the phone did not support this feature, or it was not yet activated for me to use. Even the workshop experts found no problem with the car. Then it dawned on me that the problem could lie on the cable connecting the two. The one I happened to use, supported only charging. On replacing it with a data cable, I was delighted to use the navigation feature too. 

Sometimes, our spiritual lives draw a parallel. We might seem to be doing all the right things externally. What may be missing is the right inner disposition. Perhaps, turning to God in prayer could be the key to unblock the channel of love and grace, waiting to be poured out for us. 

Often, we are like the boy who caught a big fish and threw it back into the river. On being asked why he just let go of the big catch, responded that he did not have a frying pan big enough for the large fish.  We too might think that our problems are too big to handle. We might seem to forget that God is greater than our seemingly-big-problem. Instead of telling God how big our problems are, we need to start telling our problems how BIG our God is.

Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that flutters over its young, spreading out its wings, catching them, bearing them on its pinions (Deuteronomy 32:11), God is unceasingly caring for us whether we are aware about it or not. How often have I longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings (Luke 13:34). We may be unaware of wandering into darkness – away from the light, blinded by the lie of self-reliance. May we learn to redirect our longing to be safe under the shelter of [his] wings (Psalm 61:4).

The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples (Deuteronomy 7:7). God does not call the qualified, he qualifies the called. God does not call the equipped, he equips the called. We are never beyond the reach of God’s unfailing grace. We simply need to remind ourselves that we are His chosen beloved.

Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing upon earth that I desire besides you (Psalm 73:25). What shall I return to the Lord for all His goodness to me? (Psalm 116:12). God’s mercy and grace is simply unearned – it is an undeserved gratuitous gift. Different types of offerings can be seen suggested in the Old Testament: burnt offering, grain offering, peace offering, sin offering and guilt offering. However, Jesus himself came as the ultimate offering. By his sacrificial death on the Cross, he paid the price for our redemption. Thereafter, no other sacrifice was deemed necessary. I desire mercy and not sacrifice (Matthew 9:13). The only offering required of us is the offering of our free-will. Our dying-to-self is the best freewill offering (Exodus 35:29) we can make. Putting love into action through tiny acts of charity, by reaching out with a handful of love, to the one most in need, out of sheer love for God, is the voluntary sacrifice (Leviticus 22:23) we are encouraged to make.

The signature – Jesus, I trust in you – below the Divine Mercy image, constantly reminds us to have a heart full of trust – full of childlike faith – abandoning ourselves wholeheartedly with trustful surrender, for him to let his divine power (2Corinthians 10:4; 1Peter 1:3) work in us. For God gives grace to the humble (James 4:6; 1Peter 5:5). Blessed are those who have no doubts about me (Matthew 11:6). The Lord takes delight in those who honour him, in those who trust in his constant love (Psalm 147:11). May we strive to be a ‘vessel of trust’ and thereby be his pure delight (Wisdom 8:18). 

It’s not yet over. As the lyrics of the song goes, ‘He’s still working on me to make me what I ought to be’. May we let the spark of his majestic gaze – his holy splendour (Psalm 96:9) re-illuminate our disillusioned lives. May we yearn for him as the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:46), his unfading grace as a priceless gem (Wisdom 7:9), his unfathomable mercy as an inexpressible gift (2Corinthians 9:15) because he is abounding in love (Joel 2:13).

Anil Israel lives in Mannheim, Germany, with his wife Sunitha and their 5 children. He is the current National Formation Coordinator of JY Germany.