If you were a subject to a king in a kingdom and stole just one jewel from the king’s crown, you would be deserving of his judgement and wrath just as much as one who stole the king’s whole crown.  You would not be able to say, “Well, I only stole one jewel.”  You would be guilty.  

In reality, each of us are subjects to the KING, the KING of kings. Not one us can plead our innocence before Him. We are guilty.  Parents can see this from practically the get go.  How many parents have ever had to show their children how to throw fits and be disobedient?  Not one.  We come into this world as sinners in need of a MERCIFUL savior.  The Bible says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). It goes on to say that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). So, what are we to do? Romans 6:23b has the answer.  It says, “But the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  This free gift of faith in Him is undeserved but it is MERCIFULLY given.  With that, let’s turn our attention once again to who God is and who we are in Him.

Who Is God? He is MERCIFUL.

Don Stewart, author, speaker, and theologian says, “Although God is a God of justice He is also a God of mercy. The Bible says that God’s mercy is an attribute He possesses. Mercy can be defined as God’s divine goodness that He exercises toward His creatures.”

Psalm 103 describes this so beautifully.  Read it out loud and be encouraged. The Lord is MERCIFUL!!!  I am so thankful that He is.

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and MERCY, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.

The LORD is MERCIFUL and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.

For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. 

Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will! Bless the LORD, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul!”

Who are you in Him? You are alive in Christ.

Read Ephesians 2:1-10 out loud as well.  It’s because of the Lord’s MERCY that you are alive in Christ.

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.But God, being rich in MERCY, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

A day is coming when you will stand before God the Father to give an account of your life.  As you stand there, I pray that you will look across that courtroom and fix your eyes on Jesus the King of kings. He is the only name by which men can be saved and as you do, may you fall down on your knees and worship Him for His underserved MERCY over your life.

For those not believing or for those waffling, do not delay!  Place your trust in the Lord, who is rich in MERCY to save you.

Here is the song, “Wonderful, Merciful Savior” by Selah.

Blessings to you!

When You Pray….

1. Praise the Lord that He is MERCIFUL and has saved you.
2. Praise the Lord that you are alive in Christ.
3. Pray for your spouse and children.
4. It is Thursday, so pray for your spouse’s family (grandparents, aunt, uncles, and cousins.)