Healing Rays of Righteousness

We frequently thank God for the things he has done for us and others. And we should do that. But should not we also thank God for the things he has not done? I can think of four wonderful things God has not done which should make us incredibly grateful.

FIRST – God has not rewarded us according to our iniquities. In response to his contemplative thoughts regarding God’s behavior during the Exodus experience of his people, the Israelites, David wrote, “he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.” (Psalm 103:10).

 David rightly understood that his ancestors, along with their Egyptian neighbors, should have also lost their firstborn children to the angel of death. But God provided a substitute in the Passover lamb. This is a wonderful part of David’s life history, and he celebrates God’s mercy. “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. (Psalm 103:8).

The Scriptures clearly state that we have no inherent right to God’s mercy and redeeming grace. As the Apostle Paul says in Romans 3:23, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  But God makes possible that privilege for us in the death and resurrection of Jesus, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). Thank you, God!

SECOND – God has not failed, even once, to keep his promises. After Solomon completed his lengthy prayer, he stood to bless the people. This inspired man of prayer looked back on Israel’s long road from Mount Sinai and summed up the entire history of Israel in one sentence;  “Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses.”  (1 Kings 8:54-56).

Also, Joshua, an elderly hero in Israel’s history, affirms God’s faithfulness; “Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.”  (Joshua 23:14).

And, even today, we can rightly declare that the record of God’s faithfulness still stands. He has never failed in keeping his promises. When God speaks, it is as good as done. Yes, we can trust God’s promises. He will never disappoint us. What God promises, he can and will perform. Thank you, God!

THIRD – God has not given us the spirit of fear. Fear is one of the most controlling emotions of our modern life. Fear causes weakness and failure. Fear saps strength, paralyzes initiative, and poisons the atmosphere. When fear is evident in our lives, we can be assured that it is not of God.

Now listen to the prophetic message regarding Jesus’ birth that we hear each Christmas; “say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.’”(Isaiah 35:4). And the angel’s announcement of Jesus birth, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” (Luke 2:10).

To reassure Timothy in his ministry, the apostle Paul writes, “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid (fearful), but gives us power, love, and self-discipline (a sound mind).”  (2 Timothy 1:7).And the apostle John writes, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”  (1 John 4:18). Jesus comes to free us from fear. Thank you, Jesus!

FOURTH – God has not assigned us to wrath. The apostle Paul wrote, “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  (1 Thessalonians 5:9).

This echoes John’s statement regarding both God’s gift of salvation and his righteous judgment, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”(John 3:36). And earlier in that same chapter, John declared, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”  (John 3:16-17).

No, we cannot earn salvation or deliverance from God’s wrath, but, yes, because of God’s great love and mercy, we can receive his gift of eternal life by believing and walking with Jesus in repentance and trust. This is the basis of our hope. Thank you, God!

May these reminders of four things God has not done, give you even more reasons to celebrate God’s amazing love for you. AMEN!

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – 3/26/25