MERCY, MERCY, GOD’S LOVING MERCY
Mercy is not for them that sin and fear not, but for them that fear and sin not. -Watson
Psalm 23:6, Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Have you ever thought about where you would be if God had not extended His hand of mercy to you? Well, if not, let me help you. We would still be dead in our sin, on the way to hell, separated from God for eternity. But mercy… But Grace…. You see, I believe grace and mercy is a double-sided coin from the Master’s hand. No matter how it is flipped, we are blessed of God!
Do you remember when you were first touch by God’s loving mercy? If you don’t remember it; it may be that you have never been touched by it. Friend, when God touches someone; they don’t walk away unchanged!
MERCY IS GREATER
When mercy rules, there is peace.
Proverbs 11:17, The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
Mercy has been defined as, not getting what we deserve. We deserved hell, but God didn’t send us there. What He did do was give us grace. He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus to die on the Cross for our sin. He didn’t have to but He did! What mercy He has shown!
Taylor said, “Mercy is like the rainbow, which God hath set in the clouds; it never shines after it is night. If we refuse mercy here, we shall have justice in eternity.” I don’t know about you, but I would rather have mercy here because mercy is greater!
WHAT’S YOUR DRIVE IN MISSIONS?
Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter. -Spurgeon
Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. 3 John 1:7
Drive is just another way of saying motivation. Our motivation should be the love of Jesus Christ. His compassion, His longsuffering, His mercy, and His grace should motivate us to tell others about Him. It should provoke us unto good works. It should spark a desire to stand up, speak up, and proclaim the Gospel to every person we come in contact with.
John told Gaius, “…for his name’s sake they went forth.” What’s your drive in Missions? Just look to Calvary and it tells the old, old story of Jesus and His love!
WHAT’S FOLLOWING YOU?
Mercy is not for them that sin and fear not, but for them that fear and sin not. –Watson
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. Psalm 23:6
David proclaimed goodness and mercy would follow him not just for a day or two. Not for a week. Not only for a year. He said goodness and mercy would follow him, all the days of his life! But my question is why? Why would goodness and mercy follow David? What makes David so special? I believe you have to go back to verse one where David said, “The LORD is my shepherd…”
Just as a shepherd will take care of his sheep, The LORD will take care of His children! He will guide them, cherish them, love them, He will mend their wounds, and He will save them from the enemy! Goodness and mercy follows us for the same reason it follows David; The LORD is our Shepherd!
GOOD INTENTIONS
If you can earn it, why did Jesus die?
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. Acts 10:1-2
At a first look, one would think Cornelius was a saved man on his way to Heaven. He was a religious man who feared God, gave financially to the ministry, and prayed. But if you continue reading in Acts you will come to the understanding Cornelius did not know who Jesus was. Even with all of His works he was still dead in his sin and trespasses.
Is that what you are doing in this life for Jesus? Are you trying to work your way to Heaven? You have good intentions in working for the Lord but it won’t work, ye must repent and be born again. No one gets to Heaven, by their works! Consider with me Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
SALVATION IS MORE
Salvation is not something that is done for you but something that happens within you. It is not the clearing of a court record, but the transformation of a life attitude. –Palmer
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17
If you were married but you never came home to your spouse, if you never told her you loved her, if you never had supper with Him, if you never changed the way you spent your time, would someone that wasn’t at the ceremony think you were married? Probably not!
Then it stands to reason, if someone says they are a Christian but never spends time with their Saviour by reading His Word, never comes and dines with His people, never comes to His house, then that person is deceived into thinking they are saved as well. I believe this is where many in the church house stands—lost but blinded by their own religion.
Salvation is more than just going to Heaven! It involves holy living! It involves dying to self! It involves sacrifice! It involves grace! It involves mercy! In what way have you been changed by God saving you? Are you the new creature scripture says you are? If not, there you are probably still lost in your sins and trespasses! So repent ye, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand!
Faith, Alone, Dead
It is not faith and works; it is not faith or works; it is faith that works. –Anonymous
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? James 2:20
That word vain means empty. An empty man has no faith. They trust in themselves, their life experiences, or what they can touch, see, smell, or even taste. Our salvation is not based on feelings even though it feels good to be saved! It tastes good to be saved! It smells good to be saved! It looks good to be saved!
Our salvation, Paul said, is based on: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Ephesians 2:8” James reiterates this statement by putting it a different way… But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? James 2:20
Is your faith alive? Men shall know by your works!
There is power in prayer
"Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference." - Max Lucado
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
So often victory in our life is just a prayer away. Do we recognize the need of prayer? Do we take time to pray before our day begins? Do we pray for our friends and family? It's good to be in the habit of praying and not just over our meals! Before all else fails-- pray!