“Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:1-5 NKJV)
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.” (Psalm 23:6 NKJV)
“Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4 ESV)
Forgiveness, healing, redemption, and now kindness and mercy. The Kingdom of Heaven has the best benefit package I have ever seen. Looking back on my life, I must have been blind, stupid, or insane to choose sin over the Kingdom (actually I was a whole lot of all of them).
Kindness is something our world is in desperate need of. We have so much fear and hatred going around. Kindness is what opens people up to hearing the truth that will set them free. For many years my main motivation to try to live what I thought was a life that would please God was fear of punishment. That may have stopped me from making a bad choice from time to time, but mainly it just kept me from getting close to Him. When I got a revelation of His kindness (goodness) I stopped trying to live up to somehow gain His acceptance, and started receiving His love. It was His kindness that changed the way I think and live.
Mercy is such a wonderful benefit. The Psalmist said that the Lord’s mercies are new every morning. Yesterday’s failures are forgotten. That is amazing!! I am able to start every day with a clean slate. Mercy does not give me what I deserve, it gives me what He wants me to have. Mercy blesses me regardless of my shortcomings, failures, and flaws.
The best part is that none of these Kingdom benefits need to be earned. They were freely given to me through Jesus when I stepped out of the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of Heaven. They are mine whether I am currently sensing them or not. They are following me every step that I take. I do not need to chase after these benefits; they are chasing after me.
Slow down and experience…
… Eric’s Life Lesson # 36: “There are benefits to living in the Kingdom of Heaven today (and even more yet to come).” Part 6: Crowns…Kindness & Mercy