Hessed

Ps.63:³ (NKJV) “Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You.”

The other sheepdog – mercy is the Hebrew word Hesed [when the person from whom I have a right to expect nothing, gives me everything]. Theologians tell us that it is one of the richest words in Hebrew. Mercy is also translated unfailing love, loving-kindness. When the Psalmist says, “Your loving-kindness is better than life” – that is hesed. Hesed [mercy] speaks of God’s loyal and unconditional commitment to you even though He knows that you are not perfect. While you are running fast, trying to fulfill your destiny, you are going to make mistakes. God is saying, mercy will catch up with you, not to punish you but to forgive you. Mercy is not getting what you deserve. Goodness on one hand, mercy on the other hand; both are chasing you and you cannot outrun them. They both will catch up with you. Many people think that God’s commitment to them is conditional. God is not committed to you “if” A or B is in place. God is committed to you because you belong to Him.

Think about it; you are committed to your children themselves, not to everything your children do. Parents are not committed to everything a child does, but they are committed to the child. He may be a badly-behaved boy, she may be an arrogant girl, they may be troublesome. You are not committed to the trouble that child is making but you are committed to that child. We do not have any problem with being this committed to our children. So, why do we think that God would have a problem with being unconditionally committed to us? Are you saying you are better than God or that you are a better parent than God? God is not going to give up on you because you are His own. He may not like your bad behavior, or your talkative nature, or how you always react to things, but you are His own.

So how can you love your children even though they are not perfect? Yes! Simply because they are yours. The reason God loves me even though I have my idiosyncrasies and I am not perfect, is simple. I am His – His boy. You cannot touch me, I am the apple of God’s eye. If you touch me God is going to deal with you. That is how it is! You are not perfect, but you are God’s child. You are His and that is so big. I did a lot of things that I am not proud of in secondary school. At some point, my actions got me suspended and that was a big deal at home. But I was never abandoned or rejected by my family. I was still welcome at home. My meals were still guaranteed and the roof over my head was not taken away. For the period I was out of school, I received love and care. In retrospect, that is unconditional love. Even though no one was pleased with that I did, I was still accepted. The possibility of losing my family or my meals never crossed my mind.

Prayer: Father, Your unconditional love thrills me and I praise You for Your goodness and mercy over my life endure forever, in Jesus Name. Amen!