I will never forget the lesson God showed me on His mercy. During my teenage years, I shut God out of my life. I thought I could do it on my own. However, my independent spirit left me feeling empty. At the age of 25, I reached out to God for help. God met me right where I was at with these words, I have already forgiven you, My child, you must forgive yourself. My initial reaction was thinking that I had nothing to be forgiven of. I looked to the people who molested me as a child. However, through the years following this encounter with God, these were the words I needed to hear. I found it more difficult to forgive myself of my shortcomings than to forgive those who hurt me. Each time I faced a new memory of how I rebelled against God, God reminded me of the words He spoke to me. I found great comfort in His mercy and grace.
MEMORY VERSE
“But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God” (Nehemiah 9:31, NIV).WHAT’S IN A WORD?
Mercy…
Mercy is “kindness in excess of what may be expected or demanded by fairness; forbearance and compassion” (Webster’s New World College Dictionary). It is “lenient or compassionate treatment” (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary). “Mercy is an act of God, peace is the resulting experience in the heart of man. Grace describes God’s attitude toward the lawbreaker and the rebel; mercy is His attitude toward those who are in distress” (Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words).
HIDDEN GEMS
God is abounding in mercy to us as believers. He is quick to forgive us when we repent. We will indeed have His peace that passes all understanding when we are in a right relationship with God.
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23, NIV).
Read Lamentations 3:22-23. Why are we not consumed?
What never fails?
What are His compassions every morning?
What is God’s faithfulness?
God is faithful and merciful to us because of His unconditional love toward us. God never fails in His compassion toward us. They are indeed new every morning.
“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6, NIV).
Read Psalm 23:6. What two things will follow us?
How long will goodness and love follow us?
How long will we dwell in the house of the Lord?
God’s goodness and mercy and love will indeed follow us all the days of our lives. We can find comfort both in this world and in going to heaven to come. I find great comfort in this Scripture as I am facing stage 4 colon cancer. I can praise God because I am in a win-win situation.
“Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy” (Proverbs 28:13, NIV).
Read Proverbs 28:13. Who does not prosper?
Who finds mercy?
When we try to hide our sins from God, we will pay the price. However, when we come to God in repentance, we will find mercy. We can praise God for always being there for us and for being quick to forgive us our sins.
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16, NIV).
Read Hebrews 4:16. How is God’s throne described?
How are we to approach God’s throne of grace?
What will we receive?
What will we find help for?
We can find comfort that we can approach God’s throne of grace with confidence. God is there for us and desires a close, intimate relationship with us. We will indeed obtain mercy and find grace to help us in our trials.
YOUR HEART’S DESIRE
“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love” (Psalm 103:8, NIV). Our God is a merciful God. We can praise His name for being there for us. God extends mercy to us so that we can be merciful toward others. “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36, NIV).
Name a time when you were struggling with a sin.
How did you feel?
How did you come to God in repentance?
How did you feel?
What Scripture spoke to you during this time?
How did you extend mercy toward others in praise of God who extended mercy to you?
God’s mercy is abounding. When we repent of our sins, we will find immediate relief. We can praise God for forgiving us our sins. God will then bring people along our path to extend mercy to in the same way He was merciful toward us.
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for being merciful with me as I repent of my sins. Help me to be merciful toward others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
NUGGETS OF WISDOM
Mercy is compassion in action. Author unknown
Two works of mercy set a man free: forgive and you will be forgiven, and give and you will receive. Augustine of Hippo.
Do you wish to receive mercy: Show mercy to your neighbor. John Chrysostom
God’s mercy was not increased when Jesus came to earth, it was illustrated! Illustrated in a way we can understand. Eugenia Price
There’s a wideness in God’s mercy, like the wideness of the sea. F.W. Faber
Inner Beauty Bible Study 