April 1, 2001
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD.
"As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9
I've used this passage many times to help myself and others understand that God has the ability to see 'down the road' in our lives where we do not... that helps me to trust him, to trust what he's doing when things don't seem to be going the way I think they should. In looking more closely at this today I see that it's very connected to the thought in the verse before it, this statement is made in reference to God saying he would freely pardon. Another amazing aspect of God's character and one I often struggle to fully understand is his ability to forgive. Our understanding of forgiveness is hindered by our own inability to forgive completely the people around us. His thoughts and ways are not ours... God is able to forgive without remembering the offense, he is quick to forgive, he harbors nothing in his heart, he has no desire for revenge, he doesn't give us the cold shoulder, no matter how often we sin he forgives, the size of the offense doesn't matter - he still forgives... God doesn't hold back even a tiny piece of his heart when sinned against! I'm very grateful that his ways are higher than my ways, that he doesn't stoop to the things that I do at times!!