God of Mercy
God of Mercy – Understanding
Mercy
God is known to be a God of mercy
and grace. Understanding mercy is
often difficult for people as we tend
to be a generation of “I’ll get him for
that” and “I hope they get what they
deserve.” Many have developed a
nature of harsh criticism and want
others to get what they have coming
to them and then some.
God, however, is merciful to even the
worst offenders, sinners, and law-
breakers. This means that even
though He knows of our guilt, He
doesn’t always issue the punishment
deserved. To elaborate, the verse in
Romans 3:23-24 says “...all have
sinned and fall short of the glory of
God, and are justified freely by his
grace through the redemption that
came by Christ Jesus.”
Simply, we are all sinners and do not
meet the standards of righteousness
that God intends us to have. But,
through His mercy and grace He
provided a way for our sins to be
forgiven through our acceptance of
Christ Jesus—even though we don’t
deserve it. Coupled with grace (being
given God’s free gift of forgiveness
though we’ve done nothing to
deserve it), mercy is shown because
He loves us and only asks that we
accept His Son by faith.
God of Mercy – To whom it is given
The God of mercy calls for the
following in Micah 6:8: “He has
showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of
you? To act justly, and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.”
These are words to all of mankind.
Mercy is offered to you and me alike.
He has shown us what is good and
answers what is required of us.
Micah asks God in Micah 7:18, “Who
is a God like you, who pardons sin
and forgives the transgression of the
remnant of his inheritance? You do
not stay angry forever but delight to
show mercy.”
This passage shows that God enjoys
being merciful, and is still showing
mercy today. One example of God’s
mercy today is the remarkable story
of a woman called Jeanette. Her
grandmother, Carla, tried to urge
Jeanette to go into drug rehab
without much success. Carla prayed
to God, asking for His intervention
with Jeanette. Carla was reminded by
the words from God, “Who do I need
to do anything, remember who I AM.
I can take that drug away from your
granddaughter, squash it and it will
not return.” Carla said she prayed for
Jesus to come into their broken
family and heal her granddaughter.
Jeanette is now drug free and
enjoying a blessed relationship with
her family. Carla stands on Luke
1:50, “His mercy extends to those
who fear [revere] him, from
generation to generation.”
There are many references about
God’s mercy throughout the Bible.
For instance, in Genesis 37 through
45 we find the story of Joseph, son
of Jacob. God’s mercy toward
Joseph’s brothers for their betrayal
is certainly evident in this story.
Other illustrations are found
throughout the prayers of King David
in the Psalms. God’s mercy is
endless and found throughout the
ages to the present.
God of Mercy – The Ultimate Benefit
Saying that He is a God of mercy is a
minimized description of what He is
willing to do. Remember, in the first
section we said God offers a pardon
even though He knows of our guilt.
Paul gives a good picture of this in
Ephesians 2:1-10. “As for you, you
were dead in your transgressions
and sins, in which you used to live
when you followed the ways of this
world and of the ruler of the kingdom
of the air, the spirit who is now at
work in those who are disobedient.
All of us also lived among them at
one time, gratifying the cravings of
our sinful nature and following its
desires and thoughts. Like the rest,
we were by nature objects of wrath. “
“But because of his great love for us,
God, who is rich in mercy, made us
alive with Christ even when we were
dead in transgressions—it is by
grace we are saved. And God raised
us up with Christ and seated us with
him in the heavenly realms in Christ
Jesus, in order that in the coming
ages he might show the
incomparable riches of his grace,
expressed in his kindness to us in
Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you
have been saved, through faith—and
this not from yourselves, it is the gift
of God—not by works, so that no
one can boast. For we are God’s
workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus to do good works, which God
prepared in advance for us to do.”
Mercy
God is known to be a God of mercy
and grace. Understanding mercy is
often difficult for people as we tend
to be a generation of “I’ll get him for
that” and “I hope they get what they
deserve.” Many have developed a
nature of harsh criticism and want
others to get what they have coming
to them and then some.
God, however, is merciful to even the
worst offenders, sinners, and law-
breakers. This means that even
though He knows of our guilt, He
doesn’t always issue the punishment
deserved. To elaborate, the verse in
Romans 3:23-24 says “...all have
sinned and fall short of the glory of
God, and are justified freely by his
grace through the redemption that
came by Christ Jesus.”
Simply, we are all sinners and do not
meet the standards of righteousness
that God intends us to have. But,
through His mercy and grace He
provided a way for our sins to be
forgiven through our acceptance of
Christ Jesus—even though we don’t
deserve it. Coupled with grace (being
given God’s free gift of forgiveness
though we’ve done nothing to
deserve it), mercy is shown because
He loves us and only asks that we
accept His Son by faith.
God of Mercy – To whom it is given
The God of mercy calls for the
following in Micah 6:8: “He has
showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of
you? To act justly, and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.”
These are words to all of mankind.
Mercy is offered to you and me alike.
He has shown us what is good and
answers what is required of us.
Micah asks God in Micah 7:18, “Who
is a God like you, who pardons sin
and forgives the transgression of the
remnant of his inheritance? You do
not stay angry forever but delight to
show mercy.”
This passage shows that God enjoys
being merciful, and is still showing
mercy today. One example of God’s
mercy today is the remarkable story
of a woman called Jeanette. Her
grandmother, Carla, tried to urge
Jeanette to go into drug rehab
without much success. Carla prayed
to God, asking for His intervention
with Jeanette. Carla was reminded by
the words from God, “Who do I need
to do anything, remember who I AM.
I can take that drug away from your
granddaughter, squash it and it will
not return.” Carla said she prayed for
Jesus to come into their broken
family and heal her granddaughter.
Jeanette is now drug free and
enjoying a blessed relationship with
her family. Carla stands on Luke
1:50, “His mercy extends to those
who fear [revere] him, from
generation to generation.”
There are many references about
God’s mercy throughout the Bible.
For instance, in Genesis 37 through
45 we find the story of Joseph, son
of Jacob. God’s mercy toward
Joseph’s brothers for their betrayal
is certainly evident in this story.
Other illustrations are found
throughout the prayers of King David
in the Psalms. God’s mercy is
endless and found throughout the
ages to the present.
God of Mercy – The Ultimate Benefit
Saying that He is a God of mercy is a
minimized description of what He is
willing to do. Remember, in the first
section we said God offers a pardon
even though He knows of our guilt.
Paul gives a good picture of this in
Ephesians 2:1-10. “As for you, you
were dead in your transgressions
and sins, in which you used to live
when you followed the ways of this
world and of the ruler of the kingdom
of the air, the spirit who is now at
work in those who are disobedient.
All of us also lived among them at
one time, gratifying the cravings of
our sinful nature and following its
desires and thoughts. Like the rest,
we were by nature objects of wrath. “
“But because of his great love for us,
God, who is rich in mercy, made us
alive with Christ even when we were
dead in transgressions—it is by
grace we are saved. And God raised
us up with Christ and seated us with
him in the heavenly realms in Christ
Jesus, in order that in the coming
ages he might show the
incomparable riches of his grace,
expressed in his kindness to us in
Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you
have been saved, through faith—and
this not from yourselves, it is the gift
of God—not by works, so that no
one can boast. For we are God’s
workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus to do good works, which God
prepared in advance for us to do.”
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