J.A. Matteson
Grace produces reverence toward Him who brings life out of death. A profound sense of gratefulness consumes the child of God. Offensive to the heirs of Life are words and deeds that disregard the Lord of glory by ignorant men, who with contempt reject His statutes and His Son. "Burning indignation has seized me because of the wicked, who forsake Your law" (Ps. 119:53). Grace tempers righteous indignation and is able to transform it to compassion. For the anger of man does not accomplish the righteousness of God. And in as much as the sweet rains from heaven fall on the just and unjust alike, so grace works compassion in the heart of the saints to recall the end of the wicked apart from Christ, and that but by His grace they too would face perdition. While indignation testifies to His seed within, compassion reveals maturity in grace. Jesus Christ came to seek the ungodly, the vile, the wicked who forsook the law of God. As sons and daughters of God His calling and mission of mercy is ours.
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