One of the greatest joys we have as believers is knowing that God, our Father, is a
merciful God. Many of us have made a lot of mistakes in our lives and through it all, we
have experienced God’s love. This love is what draws us closer God. Some life decisions
can take you five steps back but when God’s mercy arises on your behalf it will look as if
nothing ever went wrong, Luke 15:11-32.
The prodigal son strayed away from his father’s perfect will for him, but what helped him
to come back was his understanding of who he’s father was, Luke 15: 17-18. The world
we live in today does not fully promote the idea of showing mercy and compassion but as
believers, who have been renewed in Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:17, it is our responsibility to
strive to mirror Jesus Christ by being merciful on to others.
In Ephesians 2:4-5 which reads as follows, But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great
love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together
with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;), we learn that the root of God’s mercy is his
unconditional love. One of the challenges we struggle with as believers is the ability to
forgive someone when we have been severely hurt by them, but God does not have that
issue, in Exodus 34:6, Lamentations 3:22-23, we see that it is God’s nature to be merciful.
One of the tactics Satan uses to draw us away from God is to make us feel guilty for our
past mistakes and our sins – Revelation 12:10. Satan wants us to believe that we are not
worthy of God’s love when, in truth, God loves us so much that he gave us Jesus, His
only begotten Son to die for our sins, John 3:16, 1 John 4:9-10, 1 Timothy 2:5-6. The God
we serve is also a consistent God, He loved us before we were even born – Psalm
139:13-16, Jeremiah 1:5.
Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may
obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 teaches us how to
receive mercy from God, we must come to him boldly, by acknowledging that we have
sinned and must have a contrite heart, Psalm 34:18, Matthew 5:3. God’s mercy is new
every morning, meaning that it is everlasting, and it is unfailing. In John 8:3-11 we learn
about the woman who was about to be stoned for committing adultery, Jesus saw what
was about to happen and responded with mercy saying, “He that is without sin among
you, let him first cast a stone at her.” when Jesus said this, all the accusers left one by
one. In John 8:11 we learn a one crucial aspect of receiving mercy, Jesus assured the
woman that He did not condemn her and then He said to her, “go and sin no more”,
meaning that even when we receive mercy, it does not give us the right to continue living
in sin – Romans 6:1-2, 1 John 3:6, Galatians 5:13.
As believers we must understand that God is trusting us to live a life without sin because
He has given us, His son to die for us and through the blood of Jesus, we are saved –
Revelation 1:5. God is a loving Father but He is also a consuming fire – Hebrews 12:29,
Deuteronomy 4:24, Nahum 1:6. We ought to be humble enough to receive God’s mercy
and to also show mercy – Matthew 18:23-35. Matthew 18:23-35, tells us the importance
of forgiveness and mercy, teaching us that just as God forgives our sins, we should also
forgive others.
Ultimately, mercy is a two-way street, if you can not show mercy, should it be fair to
receive mercy from the Most High God? God bless you and may God continue to direct
us all, In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen!!!