Show His Ways

Today's psalm says, "I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners shall return to you."   I've heard this or similar verses 1000's of times.  I've often felt uncomfortable with some of the self-righteous tones.   It seems like I would walk up to someone and say, "You are a horrible sinner!  Look at the your life.   You are not living God's way and following His laws and commandments.  Let me show you how you aught to be living according to God's way.   Otherwise you will incur God's wrath and judgment."  This doesn't seem like an effective way to lead others to "return to you."  Maybe this isn't what it means to teach God's ways.

While God is infinitely just, this isn't His greatest attribute.   There are divine laws and commandments, but God's way is the way of love and mercy.   There is a God who waits eager to show you His unconditional love and longs to welcome you with the open arms of a loving father.  It doesn't matter who you are and what you've done.   God found me and showed me His love.   I don't deserve it.  Now I want to change because I know how much I am loved, and I don't want to do anything that can separate me from that love and that relationship.   I don't want anything to come between me and my Beloved.

How am I showing others God's way?   Today, I maybe given the opportunity to show God's way to another.  Am I going to focus on God's law and justice or His greatest attribute, His love and mercy?   Lord, may I be an instrument of Your grace today.   Make me an instrument of Your peace.

Why do we worship?   I've never met anyone who has said, "Praise God!  He has given me what I deserve and has judged me."  We worship because of His love and mercy.