Mercy Mercy Me

Micah 6:8

"Mercy mercy me.  Things ain't what they used to be, no, no," Marvin Gaye once sang. Amen to that!  God has brought me so far in such a short amount of time.  God loves us the way we are, so much so, that He does not intend for us to stay that way!  Boy, do I love me some mercy :) However, notice that in conjunction with loving mercy, God commands us to act justly and walk humbly, as well.  That can be hard to do sometimes--a lot of times! But we can't expect to reap benefits without sowing some effort!  I like to say that God helps those who help themselves! For instance, you will reap the benefits of feeling better physically if you adjust your eating habits, exercise, drink water, have a regular sleeping schedule, go to the doctor when necessary, take your medicine/s as prescribed, etc.  If you do the same thing over and over again, but expect different results, you will surely go insane!  So, God guides His children by giving us 3 concise, simple to remember (notice I did not say simple to do) steps to achieve peace!  

1. How do we act justly?  Remain impartial and know that God is the ONLY judge.  He will "avenge the wrongs done to [us]" (1 Samuel 24:12).  Deuteronomy 32:43 says that, "he will avenge the blood of his servants; he will take vengeance on his enemies and make atonement for his land and people."  Romans 12:19 is my favorite verse concerning God's retribution for His children:  "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge: I will repay,' says the Lord." That makes me feel so loved, secure, and treasured.

2. What does it mean to "love mercy"?  It's a strange, very seldom heard mandate used in today's society.  Well, we know that God's mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23).That means we are to accept His mercy, love, and forgiveness daily without feeling the need to produce works in exchange for his FREELY given gift that CANNOT be earned.  In today's world, everything seems to be give and take.  It's almost as if we have turned cold and selfish, feeling that we DESERVE things "just because".  I'm sorry to knock us off our soap boxes, but that just isn't the case.  The mere fact that Jesus died on the cross for us alone is enough to sustain us for the rest of our days on Earth.  Mercy is just a bonus!  So, be grateful and love mercy!  Don't ever be too proud to accept a gift from God, which leads me to my final point.

3. How do we walk humbly?  One way to start walking in humility is to meditate on the Word of God so that you can learn how to be more like Jesus.  God gives grace (another FREE gift) to the humble.  I don't know about you, but I really appreciate God's grace and mercy each day. Sometimes, these divine gifts are the only things that get me through the day.  Approaching God's throne of grace with a quiet confidence will provide us with grace and mercy to persevere and finish the race (Hebrews 4:16).  To approach any person of authority seeking grace and mercy, you must be walking in humility.  Pride brings forth disgrace, but humility brings forth wisdom (Proverbs 11:2).  The Bible says that the Lord knows the proud from afar (Psalm 138:6).  Great Scott!  That is a scary revelation! Instead, let's Devise2bWise all the days of our lives!

 "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:45

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