Lindsay Roberts
The Lord showed me in Psalm 103:1˗2, 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. And then He begins to list the benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s (Psalm 103:3˗5).
Can you imagine all those things? Those things, the Lord is saying, are His benefits when we just bless Him. That is all our part is. Our part is so small, and God, in turn, multiplies it into such great benefits!
He said, “Forget not My benefits. I’ll forgive your iniquities. I’ll heal your diseases. I’ll redeem your life from destruction. I will crown you with lovingkindness and tender mercies. I will satisfy your mouth with good things. And your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Then He said, “Remember, I’m dealing with you in mercy and graciousness. I’m slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy” (v. 8).
God has told us that He has not dealt with us after our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities (v.10). He is saying to us, “I forgive all. I’m not going to do to you what you deserve”
The Bible says we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. He said, “But I understand that you were made from dust. I’m going to deal with you in mercy. As the heaven is high above the earth, so great is My mercy toward them that fear Me. And as far as the east is from the west, so far I have removed your transgressions from you” (vv. 11-14).
Our part is to bless the Lord. The greatest thing God ever did—THE greatest benefit—was sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the Cross. He sent Him not only to be born, but also to go to the Cross and die for our sins. He rose again, and He said, “Because I live, you shall live also.” Because Jesus Christ was born, because He went to the Cross, because He rose from the grave, we have eternal, everlasting life. Those are just some of the benefits of God.
Why would God send a Savior for me and you? What have I ever done to deserve that? There is nothing we could ever do—nothing so great or so good—that Gold would send Jesus for us. None of us deserved it. But He said, “All you have to do is bless the Lord, O my soul, and I’ll do all the benefits!”
