DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- GOD'S SUPERNATURAL MERCY

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – GOD'S SUPERNATURAL MERCY

"So then it is no of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy." (Romans 9:16)

It would be the height of folly to try to explain in a devotional Paul's argument in this chapter. It is too deep and full of theology to try to capture his thinking. But one thing stands out clearly. Mercy is God's prerogative and His doing and His alone.

God's righteousness is not attained by our willing desire or by our running, but by God's divine plan, His nature, and His character. His plan always has been and always will be salvation by grace through faith, and not by our works of righteousness (Ephesians 2:8-9). His plan of Redemption is evident in Scripture: "Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ...." (II Timothy 1:9-10). It is only by His mercy and grace that we have any hope.

This is 180 degrees opposed to human thinking. We naturally feel that we have to earn someone's favor or love. That's why God's salvation is supernatural – it goes beyond our natural inclinations.

I love the hymn: "Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt. Yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured, there where the blood of the Lamb was spilled. Grace, grace God's grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within. Grace, grace, God's grace. Grace that is great than all my sin."

Another hymn has always been dear to me: "Mercy there was great and grace was free. Pardon there was multiplied to me. There my burdened soul found liberty – at Calvary." What a merciful and gracious God we serve.

Love, Dad