“He is ever MERCIFUL, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.” Psalm 37:26
Growing up, I heard the phrase, “Mercy, mercy, Mr. Percy!” Well, I am not sure who Mr. Percy is, but I do know that mercy does not come from a person but from God Himself. Deuteronomy 4:31 “(For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.”
Mercy is compassion or forgiveness shown to another when it is in your power to punish. Ouch! God shows mercy to us every single day, but how much mercy do we show to others?
Let us look today at some times that God has or will show mercy to us:
Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” When we are in the need of mercy, let us find ourselves boldly bowing at His throne!
Ephesians 2:4-5 “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.)” Wow! He showed mercy to us EVEN when we had a life full of sin!
I John 1:9-10 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” So many times, verse 9 is quoted and verse 10 is overlooked. How often do we truly go to God confessing our sins and asking for forgiveness? Not enough, my friend! Why do you think that is? Probably because we do not feel like we have sinned … and therein lies a whole study unto itself! In a nutshell, we do not come often enough before a righteous and holy God to see the obvious difference in our lives. For who can do so and not leave changed?
Micah 6:8 “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Not only does the Lord require in us to love mercy, but He desires for us to do justly and walk humbly with our God.
Lamentations 3:22-23 “It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” Thank the Lord His mercies are not just a one-time thing, but EVERY morning as I arise from my bed, His mercies are renewed unto me! GREAT is HIS faithfulness!
Lastly, but definitely not least, let us be left with this reminder today … Luke 6:36 “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”