For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; Psalm 103:11

Many translations use the word “mercy” instead of love for this verse. Of course God’s love and mercy are intertwined, but the point is this: when you have a genuine fear and reverence for God and who He is, a ton of God’s mercy is poured out on us. Why? Because we desperately need it.

We don’t need the fashion and cars and fancy houses and a bank full of cash.

We don’t need drugs to get us high or booze to settle our nerves, but we do need God’s mercy.

Were it not for God’s unmerited favor, also called mercy, we could say like the song writer (Ronnie Hinson (c)1971):

For Jesus is the Lighthouse,
And from the rocks of sin,
He has shone a light around me
that I could clearly see
If it wasn’t for the lighthouse
Where would this ship be?

Where indeed.