The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. Psalm 103:8
Forgiveness does not come naturally to us. Instead of forgiving, our natural reaction is to harbor anger and retaliate. We want vengeance. This is not the case with God. Unlike us human beings, God does not hold our sins against us and, instead, offers forgiveness when we turn to Him. He is ready and waiting for people to turn to Him and place their faith in Him.
This week, we have been looking at a parable that Jesus told that involved a father and two sons in Luke 15. The younger son in this story asked his father for his inheritance early, spent all the money, and decided to return to his father. He decided that he was unworthy to be treated as a son to His father anymore, so he decided to ask if he could be taken into his father’s house as a servant (verses 17-18). In a remarkable act of grace, kindness, and forgiveness, the father chose to forgive his younger son. In fact, Scripture teaches that “while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him (verse 20). The father chose to welcome his prodigal son home, even after asking for his inheritance early and then squandering that inheritance. This, of course, was a picture of God and His great forgiveness for all who turn to Him.
David wrote all about God’s great forgiveness in Psalm 103. He began this Psalm praising God, saying, “Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases” (verses 2-3). He had personally experienced God’s forgiveness. He continued writing in this Psalm several verses later, “The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever” (verses 8-9). Indeed, God’s forgiveness is extravagant and boundless.
Still today, God extends His great forgiveness to all who turn to Him. That means that if we have placed our faith in Him, He does not hold our great sin against us. The blood of Christ has covered all of our sins. Praise God for His forgiveness, which He has lavished on all of us.
Write out a prayer of praise to God today. In your prayer, praise Him for His extravagant forgiveness. Thank Him specifically for the radical, extravagant forgiveness that He has shown you. He deserves every ounce of the praise that we can offer.
Psalm 103:1-22
1 Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. 2 Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. 3 He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. 4 He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. 5 He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
6 The Lord gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly.
7 He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel. 8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. 9 He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. 10 He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. 11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. 12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. 13 The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. 14 For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust. 15 Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. 16 The wind blows, and we are gone— as though we had never been here. 17 But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children 18 of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments!
19 The Lord has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything.
20 Praise the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands. 21 Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels who serve him and do his will! 22 Praise the Lord, everything he has created, everything in all his kingdom.
Let all that I am praise the Lord.
©2025 Sagebrush Church
