So Many Accordinglys

“I will recount the steadfast love of the Lord,
    the praises of the Lord,
according to all that the Lord has granted us,
    and the great goodness to the house of Israel
that he has granted them according to his compassion,
    according to the abundance of his steadfast love.
For he said, ‘Surely they are my people,
    children who will not deal falsely.’
    And he became their Savior.
In all their affliction he was afflicted,
    and the angel of his presence saved them;
in his love and in his pity he redeemed them;
    he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

“But they rebelled
    and grieved his Holy Spirit;
therefore he turned to be their enemy,
    and himself fought against them.
Then he remembered the days of old,
    of Moses and his people.
Where is he who brought them up out of the sea
    with the shepherds of his flock?
Where is he who put in the midst of them
    his Holy Spirit,
who caused his glorious arm
    to go at the right hand of Moses,
who divided the waters before them
    to make for himself an everlasting name,
    who led them through the depths?
Like a horse in the desert,
    they did not stumble.
Like livestock that go down into the valley,
    the Spirit of the Lord gave them rest.
So you led your people,
    to make for yourself a glorious name.” Isaiah 63:7-14

God’s blessedness and favor issue according to His perfect, abundant character. His ‘all’ and ‘great goodness’ is granted according to His compassion and steadfast love. The prompting in the human spirit to praise in return is borne of His wondrous Spirit and deeds. As His people observe and experience His constant love, mercy, and might, accordingly His image within is quickened to gratitude and worship.

Yet, according to the flesh, fallen man is prone to rebel. According to spiritual laws of gravity, the Spirit is grieved and gives him over to consequence. Enter God’s grace, and according to His mercy and promise, He intervenes to save. According to His great love man is not consumed, but delivered, that the Lord’s glory be known. What wondrous love is this?! (Lamentations 3:22-23)

According to what influences or whose desires do we make daily decisions? What attitudes and actions betray vestiges of the old life? When will we reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive to righteousness according to God’s rich mercy? (Romans 6:1-7,11-14; 8:5-14; 2 Corinthians 5:17,21)

“What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, that caused the Lord of bliss
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul.

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
when I was sinking down, O my soul!
When I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul, for my soul.

To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing;
to God and to the Lamb, I will sing.
To God and to the Lamb who is the great “I AM,”
while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing.” ~Anonymous

Lord, help me live according to Your Spirit’s truth and power, to Your glory.