Vessel & Altar

As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high is his kindness toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us. - Psalm 103:11-12

As far as the east is from the west. The psalm gives you the measure of the forgiveness, and the measure is the largest distance the ancient world could name - infinite in both directions, no meeting point. The transgressions put that far from you are not diminished by the distance. They are simply outside the space where you and God are together.

Peter's three denials are put that far. And then the question comes three times - not to punish, to restore. The grief Peter feels at the third asking is the evidence that the question reached the place where the denial lived. Lord, you know everything - the denials and the love at the same time. You know that I love you. The appeal to omniscience is the prayer for those who cannot reconcile the two things in themselves.

Sister, the kindness is as high as the heavens. Whatever you are carrying about who you have been - the denials, the failures, the places you went where you did not want to go for the wrong reasons - the kindness is larger than the distance. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget any of his benefits. The benefits are the forgiveness and the commission and the question asked again.

Bless the Lord, O my soul - all my being, bless his holy name. Name one benefit you have received from the Lord in this season that you have not yet formally acknowledged. Give him thanks for it by name, specifically. Gratitude is the memory of mercy, and it is the posture from which the commission is received.

Lord, as high as the heavens is your kindness. As far as east from west are my failures from me. Let me receive that at the full size. And let the question reach me as restoration: Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you. Come, Holy Spirit. Alleluia. Amen.