DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- GOD'S FAITHFUL MERCY

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – GOD'S FAITHFUL MERCY

Psalm 89:1-2 – "I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever, With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations. For I have said, Mercy shall be built up forever; Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very heavens."

Mercy and faithfulness. Two great words that show God's nature and character. Sometimes we interchange the words "mercy" and grace. Mercy and Grace are two words that are flip sides of a coin. Mercy is not receiving what I deserve. Grace is receiving what I don't deserve.

When a convicted person stands before the judge, he pleads for mercy. The criminal does not fall on the grace of the court. He falls on the mercy of the court. The judge has the authority – even the duty – to throw the book at him. But if the judge is merciful, he does not give him what he deserves. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies." (II Cor. 1:3)

God, in His mercy, does not give us what we deserve. We deserve punishment for our sins. He does not give us the punishment that is our rightfully ours. But more than that, He gives us grace. He gives us not only pardon, but so much more. His grace is abundant. In fact, the Apostle Paul said that "the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus" (I Timothy 1:14). Paul deserved God's wrath for all that he had done to the church of Jesus by persecuting them, in putting them in prison, in putting some of them to death. But he obtained mercy (vs. 16). God's mercy kept him from God's punishment, but more than that, His abundant grace gave him blessings.

We are all great sinners, deserving of God's judgment. But in His love, Jesus took that punishment on Himself when He died on the cross for our sins. By receiving His mercy, we also receive His grace – His blessing, His inheritance, His provision, His protection, His presence. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3)

Thank God for His mercy. But even more, thank God for His grace, and His faithfulness to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9). "He's been faithful, faithful to me. Looking back, His love and mercy I see. Though at times, I have questioned, even failed to believe, yet He's been faithful, faithful to me."

Love, Dad