What
would you say is the single, most outstanding thing about God? What's
His most important characteristic? Some people would say it's His power.
Others, His holiness. But God Himself would give a different answer.
You can find that answer in Exodus 33. There Moses is asking God to show him His glory.
Now the word glory could
literally be translated "heavy weight." It refers to the heaviest,
biggest, grandest thing about someone. It's the sum total of their
worth.
So what Moses was actually saying was, "Lord, I want to see
the weightiest thing about You. I want to know Your grandest
attributes." What did God say to him in response?
Chapter 34:6-7
tells us, "The Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The
Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness
and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and
transgression and sin."
Just think about that! When Moses asked God to show him the most important thing about Himself, God showed him His mercy.
That
means if you and I are to imitate God (Ephesians 5:1) we must major in
mercy too. Mercy, goodness, forgiveness and compassion must mark our
behavior above all else.
Major on mercy and others will see the glory of God in you.
