We often hear that
God is gracious. Here are some of the
verses that say so. Before we go to the
verses however, let's take a look at the definition of gracious so we are all on
the same page.
gracious
- pleasantly kind, benevolent, and courteous.
- characterized by good taste, comfort, ease, or luxury:
gracious suburban
living; a gracious home.
- indulgent or beneficent in a pleasantly condescending way, especially to inferiors.
- merciful or compassionate:
our gracious king.
- Obsolete. fortunate or happy.
I think definitions
1 and 4 would be the most applicable here.
So God is
gracious. Who is He gracious
towards? I believe He is gracious
towards those who are of the family of God.
In other words, towards those who have accepted Jesus. That is different from many who say that God
loves everyone and therefore He is gracious to all.
I both agree and
disagree with that statement. In the
sense that God makes salvation available to everyone I and therefore is
gracious, I would agree. But in the
sense that God is "pleasantly kind, benevolent, and courteous, I would
disagree. That "special
treatment" if you will, is reserved for God's people.
Now let's take a
look at a few Scriptures.
Exodus 22:27(NKJV)
For that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin. What will he
sleep in? And it will be that when he cries to Me, I will hear, for I am gracious.
Exodus 33:19(NKJV)
Then He said, “I
will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of
the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I
will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”
2 Kings 13:23(NKJV)
But the Lord
was gracious to them, had compassion on them, and regarded them, because of His
covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not yet destroy them or cast
them from His presence.
Nehemiah 9:31(NKJV)
Nevertheless
in Your great mercy You did not utterly consume them
nor forsake them; For You are God, gracious and merciful.
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