God is Merciful

Nothing humbles and breaks the heart of a sinner like mercy and love

-Thomas Brooks

Isaiah 30:18a

"Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you."

What does it mean when we hear that God is merciful? Webster defines ‘mercy’ as: compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power. Every time we sin, we go against God’s will for our lives – this is what the definition refers to as the ‘offense’. God has every right to turn His back on us because we keep screwing up. But that’s not the God that we follow, he wouldn’t do that. By choosing to follow His son Jesus, we are automatically forgiven for every sin that we commit. This is how God shows His mercy.

Reflection

1. Check out the story of the Pharisee & the Tax Collector in Luke 18:10-14. Which one of these men was shown mercy?
2. Why was he shown mercy instead of the other?

Take the Next Step

God desires more than anything to for us to have a relationship with His Son, so when we screw up, God can show mercy to us. One of the key qualities a Christ-follower is called to have is humility. When we’re humble, we admit that we don’t necessarily have the right answers or know what we are doing. The Pharisee in the parable was so ashamed of himself he couldn’t even look up to heaven! When he prayed to God he knew that he was on the wrong track (his own!). Does your pride sometimes get in the way of God’s plan? God scoffs at the proud, for they do not seek mercy. When you sin, do you earnestly and humbly seek mercy? Think about it.