GRACE AND MERCY
Psalms 31:9-11 Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak. Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors; I am a dread to my friends - those who see me on the street flee from me.
Grace is getting what we don’t deserve. We don’t deserve God’s forgiveness and reconciliation with him, nor do we deserve all his many blessings that he gives us. Mercy is not getting what we deserve. We deserve to be sent to hell for all eternity where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. We deserve God’s wrath. But for those who have faith in the grace of Jesus atonement, God not only does not send us to hell (Mercy), but he pours his many blessings and gives us eternal life with him in heaven (Grace).
In I Samuel 13:14 Samuel tells King Saul that God will take his kingdom from him, and give it to another person that is a man after his own heart. This of course would be King David. David had many flaws as he killed for plunder, committed adultery and even murdered. What made David a man after God’s own heart was his love and trust in the Lord. David knew that he deserved God’s wrath, and didn’t deserve God’s many blessings. King Saul and his army tried to kill David for many years. In the thinking of most people David didn’t have a chance against the king. All throughout Israel Saul had his spies looking for David so he could be killed. But David believed in God’s mercy and God grace. Even though he deserved punishment for some of the things he had done, David asked for God’s mercy and God graciously gave it to him. Not only did God spare David’s life, but gave him many blessings as well. All because David trusted and loved the Lord.
God wants to show you mercy too. We all deserve God’s punishment, but for those who are willing to ask for mercy and grace God is more than willing to give it. It all begins with simply asking Jesus for it. It is easy enough a child can do it. If you are not a Christian you need to become on today. I you are a Christian and going through some tough times ask for his mercy. Jesus can help you with all your needs. He desires to show you grace and mercy today.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for being so merciful and gracious to us. We love you Lord.
