Because Thy loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee. Psalm 63:3
"Loving-kindness". New translations use "love" or "mercy" as a replacement, but I prefer good ol' King James' use of "loving-kindness".
Loving-kindness-"God's persistent and unconditional tenderness, kindness, and mercy, a relationship in which he seeks after man with love and mercy. Loving-kindness expresses both God's loyalty to his covenant and his love for his people along with a faithfulness to keep His promises." *
Frequently I lose sight of the tender, merciful side of God. My relationship with God is often defined by the get-out-of-Eden-you-sinned, righteous-anger God. If I "A" then a painful "B" is headed my way from on high.
While God does reserve the right to discipline, correct and punish, He is not gleeful rubbing His hands together ready to drop a cosmic piano on my head.
When I get into the God as punisher mindset, Psalm 63:3 would remind me of His "loving-kindness". His tenderness, kindness and mercy.
For many years my life was fraught with willful, consistent disobedience yet God continued to protect me. His mercy kept me from the punishment I oh so greatly deserved. His loving-kindness provided me the time and opportunities I needed to return to Him.
Perfection, while a goal, is not something to be attained this side of heaven. I still sin daily, but my life is so different from those years of rebellion. If God didn't abandon me during my 20's, why would He wait thirty years to smite me? He forgives. He loves. He is faithful to His covenant, even when we are not.
Because of His loving-kindness, He seeks after me with love and mercy. He kindness and tenderness for me are active and intentional. They are not a passive emotion.
How much sweeter a relationship with God if defined by His loving-kindness rather than His rod of correction. How much easier to spend time with Him if the focus is on mercy and kindness not rebuke.
*http://preceptaustin.org/lovingkindness-definition_of_hesed.htm
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