Our God of Grace and Mercy
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace,
that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
(Hebrews 4:16)
We are truly fortunate and blessed that we are allowed to come boldly, yet humbly, before God’s throne to seek His grace and mercy in our lives. What is grace though? Grace is a free gift from God. It is unmerited favor. That is, there is nothing we can do to earn it, God simply gives it to us out of His love for us. Yes, even when we have sinned so greatly that no one else would offer their grace and mercy to us, God would. There have been many times in history when God had wanted to destroy the very people He created out of love, because their sin was so great. But others, like Moses, interceded for the people asking for God’s mercy. God, because of His love for them, gave them His grace and mercy and did not go through with His plan. Yet, there were times He did allow destruction to come to people which could also show His grace and mercy. How could the destruction of any people be showing grace and mercy? When sin is so great in some that it’s harming God’s people and contaminating them, He will do what He has to save His people. God has allowed armies to be wiped out in order to save His people. Whenever He hears the cries of His people, it moves Him in love.
God showed grace and mercy when He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for us. How can sending one’s Son to die on a cross show grace and mercy? People cannot fathom how a loving God could allow such a thing to happen. We could never kill our child or even allow it to happen! That’s because we aren’t God and we can’t see into the future. In Isaiah 55:8-9 it states:
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”
God can see farther than we can. After the flood where Noah and his family were the only survivors left, He promised never to fully destroy man in such a way again as it tore at his heart. Yet, He knew there had to be another way to save man from their sin and destruction because they couldn’t do it on their own. So He sent His Son, Jesus, not only to preach about God to the people but to save mankind. God sacrificed His Son for others to be saved. Not only is that grace and mercy but that is true love. Perhaps that’s why we see the following words in John 15:13:
“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
That is not only what God did for us, showing His grace and mercy in sacrificing His Son for us, but it’s what Jesus did for us when He allowed Himself to lose His life on the cross in order for many other lives to be saved. Notice I said “allowed”. Jesus chose to do this and allowed it to happen. Yes, this is true love. A love that will go to any extent to save another and make sure they are taken care of. Surface love only takes what it can get from someone but when hard times come, they leave. It’s easy to stay when things are going well, but even easier to leave when problems arise and things are not going as we want it to. It’s easy to love those who love us, but even easier to stop loving them when they do not show love to us. It’s easy to give to those who give to us, but even easier to stop giving to those who stop giving to us. True love stays through it all. True love gives even when we are not given to. True love walks problems out and holds on to faith and hope that God will deliver in times of trouble.
Are we capable of showing grace and mercy to others? Is it even possible? Yes it is. We show grace and mercy to others through forgiveness and love, even when our hearts have been continuously hurt by them. We show grace and mercy when we are left out, ignored and made fun of by others. We show grace and mercy when we are persecuted by others. We show grace and mercy when we are talked about by others. We show grace and mercy when we are betrayed by others. We show grace and mercy when we are beaten down by others. We show grace and mercy when we are hated by others. Why do we do this? Because Christ showed grace and mercy to us when we did all of these things to Him. “But He’s Christ. He can do it, I can’t”. Yes you can. When one truly comes to Christ, He changes our heart and we receive a heart like His. It takes time, but He sets us in circumstances where we get to practice our grace and mercy often.
Who has hurt you and you do not talk to them any longer. Who have you not forgiven? Who have you hurt and need their forgiveness, grace and mercy? Now is the time to either show grace and mercy or ask for it. We never know how much time we have on this earth so we must make use of every minute of it. Regardless to what many may think, once we leave this earth, our time is up and we have no other chances to make amends and do what is right.
God has show us grace and mercy and has sacrificed His own Son so we may live eternally with Him. Jesus sacrificed His life to save us from eternal death. Now it’s our turn. What can we sacrifice? Our time? Our pride? Our stubbornness? When we surrender our lives to Christ, He makes it possible for us to be able to show grace, mercy, love and forgiveness to others. It doesn’t take much to become saved. In Romans 10:8-13 it states the following:
“But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Let not another day go by without being saved. Let not another day go by without showing grace, mercy, love and forgiveness to another. You may not be able to do this in your power, but you can through God’s power:
But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” (Mark 10:27)
“Lord, thank you for sacrificing Your Son on the cross so I may live. I confess that I am not able to show the grace and mercy to others as you have shown to me, but I believe that through Christ I can show it. Change my heart, Lord, so I can walk as you walk, love as you love, forgive as you forgive and show grace and mercy as you show grace and mercy. Strengthen me, O Lord, and help me to overcome my weaknesses. Use me for your glory. I ask this in Jesus name…Amen.”