SCRIPTURE: Psalm 98
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. [Psalm 98:2-3]
God’s purpose is not to save only a few, He is not just interested in the Jews.
God is the Father of all humanity [Ephesians 3:14-15], and His desire is that none should perish but that all people be saved [2 Peter 3:9]
God is intentional about revealing Himself and His love to all people; that they do not see it is not His fault, it is in front of all our faces.
Every day we see ample evidence both of our corruption and His compassion.
If we had eyes willing to see it, we would.

For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” [Luke 2:30-32]
Simeon sees the baby Jesus, and he makes reference to this idea, that God has revealed His salvation in the sight of all nations.
And Jesus let’s it be known that He will continue to get the message out, so that every person will experience His mercy, whether they admit it or accept it or not.
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. [Matthew 24:14]
People may argue that not everyone sees it, but I think that is a matter of perspective.
Many people saw Jesus and yet they did not see God’s salvation in Him.
They saw, but did not see; actually their hearts were hardened, they refused to see it.

Think of an alcoholic, whose addiction and hurt against others is evident to those around them, but not to themselves.
They cannot see because they do not want to see it.
They have deceived themselves, they do not carefully weigh the evidence because the conclusion is too threatening, too disturbing for them to accept.
Our selfish hearts do not want to see our failure, our sin, our shame; we prefer to deny God or to blame Him – anything but accept that what He says and does is true.

I admit it, accepting the message of Jesus – that I am a sinner in need of grace – is not a pleasant one, it hurts my pride and ego.
And I also admit that it seems to me that the ways of God are not fair, that the problem of suffering is so huge that I cannot figure out how God can be loving and wants all people to be saved.
But for me, as difficult it is to believe, it is even harder to believe that there is no God, or that we are innocent, that God is responsible for all that is evil.
Every day we see evidence of our corruption; every day we see evidence of God’s love.
Like the psalmist, I have to conclude that God is so amazingly patient, merciful, forgiving – with me and with the whole world.
It makes me want to sing and shout for joy, for He has does marvelous things.

PRAYER:
Lord, forgive us please for not appreciating Your goodness, even worse for blaming You for the suffering and misery in the world. Open our eyes to see Your love, and to respond with joy and gratitude!