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Some of us may have grown up in church hearing and believing in a God who seemed kind of put out when we asked for forgiveness. This God seemed bothered, inconvenienced, and like He had to be talked into giving us mercy when we needed it most. God would still offer it, but you kind of got the feeling you were twisting His arm about it. When we lean into this idea of God, it does more than just affect the way we understand God. It influences how we see the world and other people, too. But this verse from Micah gives us a very different understanding of God.

This God, who shows up from the beginning of the Bible to the end, is a God who delights in showing mercy. This God forgives willingly and compassionately. This God doesn’t have to be talked into loving us and offering grace. This God has grace and love as His very nature. What a relief to know God doesn’t have to be talked into extending mercy. And more, to know that we are the recipients of it!

This week, when you are tempted to believe that forgiveness is a chore for God, remember that it is who God is. That makes receiving that forgiveness and extending it to others an act of worship.