“Mercy is NOT getting what we deserve.” (words shared by a precious friend)

Mercy occurs when we do NOT receive what we deserve. Truly, we deserve separation from God because of our sins.  So much could come to us, but within God’s great mercy, we do NOT receive what we most deserve.  Think about it for a moment.

Have we ever been unkind when we should have been kind, and rather than receiving retribution, we receive only kindness in return?

Have we ever ever lost our self control when we should have not, and rather than receiving the reaction deserving to us, we instead received only goodness and an opportunity to count our blessings?

Finally, have we ever reacted with rashness, sensing deep within our being that our patience was dissolving right before our eyes, when we should have taken a step back and a deep breath, realizing that the end of the world was not occurring within that single moment of time?

Kindness.

Self-Control 

Patience.

Has God shown us mercy within those three areas?

How powerful is God?

How merciful and gracious is our LORD?

Can God do all things?

Do we really believe that HE CAN—Do All Things?

Can God give and take?Does God answer our prayer?

Does He answer within His timing?

Is God merciful to us, even when we sin against Him?

Mercy.

Mercy is NOT getting what we deserve.

God grants us mercy, when we do NOT receive what we most deserve.

God never gave up on us when we wandered in lostness. God continued (in His mercy) to seek, so we might receive His Amazing Grace.

Has God given us a ministry, something another could do (maybe even better), but God has given the ministry to us still the same.  As we react with kindness, and as we exert self-control, and as we patiently fulfill the ministry we have been given, we grow in our spiritual maturity.    We should not lose heart, even with ourselves. God always finishes what He begins.  Always.

Moreover, God’s timing is impeccable, as we confidently know, and if those great witnesses and prayer warriors had given up on us when we wandered, apart from God’s saving light, then how far away from God would we remain today?  For believers, the prospect of life without salvation remains the single-most and (by far) worst thought imaginable because once we have tasted the goodness of God, never would we ever return to the darkness and separation we felt before our salvation.

Paul wrote about his ministry God gave to him.  He was a man (who once wore the name Saul and who once was most feared by so many early Christians).  Paul wrote to those in Corinth to encourage them, reminding them that God did not give up on them or even him; “therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart,” and today, we need the same reminder the same during this time of our waiting (2 Corinthians 4:1). 

So many times, we rush to give up, feeling as if progress has not been made.  We must remember the walls of Jericho did not fall due to the army’s strength; the walls fell because of God’s might.  The children of Israel did not escape Pharaoh’s Egypt due to their strength in number; they escaped due to following God’s direction and due to their readiness to leave on God’s command to “Go.”

Mercy is NOT getting what we deserve.

Mercy occurs when we are NOT given what we so honestly deserve.

So, we kneel and pray.

Father God,

Today we bow before You in thankfulness. Thank You God for Your mercy, for not extending your arm of judgment. Thank You God for Your salvation. Thank You God for Your kindness and patience toward us, even still.  Thank You God for the ministry given to us by Your leading and through your direction.

We ask You to help us God stay upon our knees every day and throughout  each day.   Let us not ever forget how far away we walked before we knew You as our Savior. Help us live in the self-control manner that only You can lead us to live. Help us to recall the merciful way You brought is out of our darkness when we did not yet know You, and God show us how to be more kind and patient toward others, just as you were with us.

Mercy.

God, we never deserved Your Amazing Grace of salvation.   Truly, instead, we deserved Your wrath. Thank You God for not giving us what we most deserve.

Yes, God, thank You for being merciful to us (sinners).

God, we ask this day that You help us to remain faithful in the ministry You have led us to do, even though it sometimes feels as if we are not moving forward or even that all hope is lost.

God, keep us walking, & Keep us serving, & Keep us circling, faithfully doing as you lead, walking beside You as we pray and serve.

Yes, thank You, God. Your mercy is so precious to us every day.

God, Your grace sustains us forever, and for that one beautiful gift, for Your salvation, we cry out, “THANK YOU GOD.”

Amen.