Good morning and a blessed Thursday morning to you. 

Recently, I was reading Psalm 103 with a congregant, and there were a few verses that really jumped out at me. I thought those verses are just perfect for this time of the year, this season of Lent, especially as we are heading into Holy Week beginning this Sunday with Palm Sunday. 

Psalm 103:10-12

He does not deal with us according to our sins,

    nor repay us according to our iniquities.

11 

For as the heavens are high above the earth,

    so great is his steadfast love towards those who fear him;

12 

as far as the east is from the west,

    so far he removes our transgressions from us.

God does not treat us how he ought. He treats us instead with love, mercy, kindness, and forgiveness. He doesn't make us pay for our sins, because he paid the price for our sins.  In our sin, our hearts are dead. They're just hearts that are dark within us. And there's nothing that we can do to change that. If we're left to our own devices, then our hearts remain in that state of being dead in sin eternally.

But God does not treat us as we deserve for our sin. Instead, he came down and became one of us. He lived perfectly for us. And through him… through his cross… through his sacrifice for us… and through his death and resurrection our hearts are made pure. Our hearts are made clean and we are given righteousness; not because of anything that we've done, or anything that we will do, but purely and completely out of God's own love for us. 

We are so thankful that God is extremely loving and merciful toward us.  He has redeemed us, and has claimed us to be his own.  He continues to show us his amazing love and mercy every single day.  

Let's pray. Heavenly Lord, we thank you so much for the abundance of grace that you have shown toward us.  Thank you for not dealing with us according to our sin, but according to your own love, grace, and mercy.  Lord, as we enter into Holy Week, turn our minds… our hearts… our every thought to you and the perfect sacrifice that you made for us. Keep us in your grace and your mercy, that we may live in the freedom and the fullness of that love. May we also have that Word of mercy and grace upon our lips, to share with those around us, and those whom we will meet.  May they also be able to know you, and to know your love, and to live in the freedom of that love.  Lord, we lift this to you, in the sacrificing and loving name of Jesus Christ. 

Have an amazing rest of your week. I look forward to worshiping with you, raising our hosanna's to the Lord this Palm Sunday. 

God bless!

Pastor Malinak