God's highest priority and deepest delight and first reaction—his heart—is merciful and gracious.

"The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, 'The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.'" —Exodus 34:6–7 (ESV)

Dane Ortlund is the author of Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers.

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