"One is not righteous who 'does' much, but the one who, without work, believes much in Christ. The Law says 'do', and it is never done. God's grace says 'believe in this', and everything IS done". Martin Luther.
The Lord sets apart 'the godly' (Psalm 4:2 & 3), but we need to pause right there. We assume that term is probably derived from the word for 'God'... but 'chasid' comes from another source - 'chesed', a Hebrew ocean of a term which seeks to express the unfathomable depths of love, fidelity and mercy. The 'chasid' are actually the recipients of 'chesed' - they are beloved - that is why they are set apart... they are simply and wondrously blessed.
That's not the end of the significance of this. The chasidim are those who sing - their receipt of such mercy causes them to extol and delight in the one who has given them such beauty, and this reciprocity brings joy and the genuine richness of life.
Christianity is about just this.
Christ comes, full of such grace and truth to us, and gives Himself for us, and we become the beneficiaries of the splendour, that we might be adopted into the beloved.
May this be the good care that enriches this day!
(With many thanks to Chad Bird).
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