Dear friend, we hope you are enjoying our series on Knowing God. No one can explain about God other than God himself. We can never understand what God has explained unless we seek to know Him with all our hearts. Only the hunger and thirst in our hearts will help us to know Him and will lead to the knowledge of God. Previously, we studied the attribute of God's compassion. If you have not read it, you can read it here. Today, we will see about God's Mercy.
What is the difference between compassion and Mercy?
Our hearts bleed when we hear about a tragedy. We feel so sorry. There is an emotional feeling in our hearts. At times, depending on the severity, tears flow from our eyes. It is because we feel compassionate. The compassion in our hearts might move us to offer help to those in need. So that they can overcome the situation. The response we do out of compassion is known as "Mercy."
There are times we might feel compassionate. But then we might forget about the incident in a few minutes and move on as if nothing has happened. Hence, the person who feels compassion need not or may not apply Mercy.
Our God is merciful:
The Bible says, The Lord passed before him (Moses) and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious" - Exodus 34:6 (ESV). The God called himself a merciful God. Mercy is an attribute of God. He offers mercy for those who call upon His name. Because He is merciful, He forgives all our sins.
God instructed Moses to build a tabernacle. Inside the Tabernacle, there was an inner sanctuary. The inner sanctuary consists of the ark of the covenant. The lid that covered the ark of the covenant was called the Mercy seat. God spoke to Moses from the mercy seat. The Ark of the Covenant consists of a commandment given to the people of Israel. Anyone who breaches the commandments has to be punished. The high priest enters the inner sanctuary once a year with the blood of a bull and lamb in his hand. He offered the blood for the forgiveness of his and the entire community. The mercy seat was the symbol of forgiveness set on top of the Ark of the Covenant for all the inequities of human sin.
The merciful God offered this arrangement while planning to offer permanent mercy through His son Jesus Christ.
Final and Permanent Mercy
The final and permanent mercy came through Jesus Christ. He offered himself as a sacrifice on the cross. He shed his blood for everyone so that He could become a sacrifice. The Bible says, "He (Jesus Christ) entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption." - Hebrews 9:12 (ESV)
We are sinners. As the Bible says, "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me." - Psalm 51:5 (ESV). We can not receive answers to our prayers without receiving forgiveness through mercy. Our inequities will separate us from God. The merciful God forgives all our inequities through the blood of Jesus and makes us qualified to receive answers to our prayers.
God expects us to be merciful:
While God gave His mercy and made us Holy, He also expects us to share the same mercy with others. Anyone who receives mercy should share the mercy with others. Jesus said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy" - Matthew 5:7 (ESV). More than our offering, God expects us to be merciful to others. The Bible says, "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings." - Hosea 6:6 (NIV). This is one of the core of the prayer Jesus taught us. "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." - Matthew 6:12 (ESV).
God is showing us with His mercy so that we can be merciful to others. He expects us to be a conduit of mercy so that His mercy can flow through us to many thousands.
Call Upon Him. He is the God of Mercy:
Dear friend, are you seeking mercy from the hands of Jesus? Please call upon His name. He is the God of mercy. Jesus said, "Ask and it shall be given to you." Jesus never pushed away those who sought His mercy. Some parents came to Him asking for mercy for their children. There were sick who called upon Him for Mercy. Jesus responded to every one of their calls. Are you seeking mercy today? Jesus wants to answer your prayers. He wants to lift you. It's your time to seek the name of Jesus today. Let's go to the presence of Jesus and pray to Him.
Please place your hands on your heart and call upon the name of Jesus. Pray the below prayer along with us from the bottom of your heart.
Dear Jesus, I (your name) come to you with a humble heart. You are the God of mercy and God of compassion. I am happy to know you more today. Thank you for teaching me who you are. Please come into my life. Change my life. Help me to receive mercy and pass on the mercy to others. Let me be the conduit of mercy and grace. Forgive all my past mistakes. Make me your child. I want to be your precious child. You alone can fulfill all my heart's desire. My heart is rejoicing as I come to know more about you. I am so happy I am serving a great God. I praise and worship you from the bottom of my heart. Be with me forever. Come with me wherever I God. Jesus, I love you. I pray in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
Dear friend, thanks so much for being with us today. We are praying for you. Please continue to hold on to Jesus. Follow Him with all your heart. He is a merciful God. May Jesus bless you and make you a blessing for many. Keep in touch.
