Merciful and Gracious | Morning Routine Daily Devotional for March 21

The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. – Exodus 34:6-8 ESV

Exodus 34 provides these amazing words from the mouth of God, a testimony of His character and motivation. It is good for us to remember that at the center of all our faith and worship is a God who is worthy of both. In today’s text, God reminds Moses of His character. He is merciful, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. He forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin. He rules justly, not clearing the guilty of their transgressions. Moses’ response is appropriate and one we should follow—he bows his head to the ground and worships.

For a moment today, put aside the challenges you’re facing and the tasks yet to be done to meditate on this: God is incredibly good. He is merciful, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. He forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin. He rules justly and will by no means clear the guilty. Rejoice in Him today. And may our response to these great truths about our great God be similar to the example set by Moses ages ago.