"Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance?" (Micah 7:18).

How we crave to be forgiven by God and by man! Who is a God like this who suffers long with our sins and doubts? Who is this who withdraws the plumb line of judgment? "I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line" (Isaiah 28:17). God's people are made according to His standards, and we are expected to be true to these standards. But when we are tested, we are found to be out of plumb. We are not up to God's measurements.

"For the Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost" (Luke 19:10); "For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners" (Matthew 9:13). Since we are all sinners, this means us. What hope this gives us! What a Friend we have in Jesus: "And here is how to measure it--the greatest love is shown when a person lays down his life for his friends" (John 15:13 TLB). This is the plumb line: love.

"And I pray that you. . .may have power. . .to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled with the measure of all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:17-19). Any friendship is measured by the depth of its affection in the sacrifices it makes and the burdens it bears. Jesus is indeed the Friend of humanity.

Moses asked God to show him His glory; instead, God chose to show Moses His goodness (Exodus 33:18,19). "And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, `The Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousand, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin'" (Exodus 34:6,7). How can we not love such a God as this!