Thought for Saturday, October 13th

October 13, 2012

Mercy Came – Grace Forgave

“Mercy forgave the thief on the cross.  Grace escorted him into paradise.”

-       Max Lucado

I Will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.  My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.  He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

Psalms  121:1-3

Most of us have been able to quote John, chapter three, and verse sixteen, since childhood.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

John 3:16

However as children, we do not generally fully comprehend the degree of mercy and the depth of grace that were incorporated in that love that God had for us.

The adage that states, ‘love covers a multitude of sins’ is almost an oversimplification of the truth and the reality of what God’s love has done for us.

God most certainly possesses compassion that transcends our logic and reason.

To us, it does not seem rational to forgive someone who keeps messing up, who continues to fail at some of the most basic and simple things: yet God does just that with each of us every time we ask Him too.

We, often feel mercy should have its limitations and there is a point in our interactions with each other when that extension of grace should max out and reach its end: yet with God it never does.

Aren’t you glad that God is in charge when it comes to our personal forgiveness; and not some of us?

The old song goes something like this: “Mercy there was great, and grace was free: Pardon there was multiplied to me: There my burden soul found liberty,” – William R Newell (lyrics from ‘At Calvary’)

How true this is!  Love, powered by mercy coupled with grace prompted God to send Jesus and motivated Jesus to go to the cross; and thus provided the gift of salvation for whoever is willing to believe and receive it.

Today’s Prayer

Father, thank you for your grace, your mercy, your compassion and your love for without them where would I be and even more perplexing is where would I be going?

“Purify my heart

Let me be as gold

And precious silver

Purify my heart

Cleanse me from within

And make me holy

Refiner’s fire

My hearts one desire

Is to be holy

Set apart for You my Master

Ready to do your will.“

-  Lyrics from ‘Refiner’s Fire’ by Brian Doerksen