Day 3: Overwhelming evidence
“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you’ (Matthew 25:24-25).
Our Father, God of lovingkindness, You passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness…" (Exodus 34:6).
We fall so far short of Your glory (Romans 3:23)—as David recognized when he prayed, Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight; so You are right in Your verdict and justified when You judge (Psalm 51:4).
But in You, we find undeserved mercy and unmerited grace—If You, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve You (Psalm 130:3-4).
Yet, though You cause the overwhelming evidence of Your glory and goodness to pass in front of [us] day after day, night after night (Exodus 33:19, Psalm 19:2), it remains unseen by unbelievers blinded by the god of this age (2 Corinthians 4:4).
Our Lord shows us in His parable (Matthew 25:14-30), the unjust and ungrateful distortion that supposes You to be a hard-taskmaster—and the terrible decisions and consequences it creates (Matthew 25:24-25).
O Lord, open our eyes to see truth—to see Your perfect love and Your goodness, grace, and mercy. Thank You for the specific gifts You have given each of us. Help us to embrace them and employ them in trustworthy service with gratitude and reverent fear.
We must distinguish between the fear of God and being afraid of him; the fear of God imports high regard and veneration for God. Obedience and good works, done from the principle of love, are not like the servile toil of one who unwillingly labours from dread of a master's anger. They are like that of a dutiful child, who does services to a beloved father, which benefit his brethren, and are done willingly.
It is a sign that our love is far from perfect, when our doubts, fears, and apprehensions of God, are many. Let heaven and earth stand amazed at His love. He sent His word to invite sinners to partake of this great salvation. Let them take the comfort of the happy change wrought in them, while they give Him the glory.
~ Matthew Henry ~
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