Day 19
God is MERCIFUl
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved…
Ephesians 2:4-5
When we think of historical and consequential statements or passages that have changed the course of human history, we might think of “I have a dream” from Martin Luther King Jr., or “all men are created equal” written by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence. I think of President Reagan standing at the Brandenburg Gate, telling the leader of the Soviet Union to “tear down this wall.” Or President Kennedy declaring at Rice University that “we choose to go to the moon.” Others, too, left a lasting impact on those who heard or read them, reshaping how people understood the world around them. Their words continue to echo through time, reaching us even today. As powerful as those statements are, few compare to the impact of just two words found in the book of Ephesians: “But God.”
As we move into the second chapter of Ephesians, Paul is describing what our lives were like before Christ. He says that we were “dead in our sins” in verse one, “following the course of this world” in verse two, and “were by nature children of wrath” in verse three. He closes verse three saying that we behaved no differently than the world around us. Now, I don’t know about you, but being dead in my sins doesn’t sound like good news.
Paul goes on to say in verse 4 that because of God’s mercy, He has brought us back to life. We could have been left to walk in our sin, but because of God’s mercy, He has made us alive in Christ. Paul calls God “the Father of mercy” in Second Corinthians. The Psalms say that God is “merciful and gracious.” The writer of Lamentations says that God’s mercies are “new every morning.” But what is mercy, and why is it such an essential part of God’s character? Mercy is the compassionate and undeserved kindness of God. Mercy is giving us what we need, not what we deserve.
God has shown mercy to His people for generations. In fact, one of the first mentions of God’s mercy is in Moses’ final message to God’s people in Deuteronomy. And one of the most significant ways God demonstrated His mercy to us was by sending His Son to us to live, to die, and to rise again and make a way to the Father. Ephesians 2 goes on to say that because of Jesus, God will continue to demonstrate His mercy to us in “the coming age.”
Isn’t that good news? God knows you. He knows where you have fallen short, and He knows the sin in which you live, big or small. And, praise God, your story doesn’t end there.
FURTHER REFLECTION:
Reflect on God’s mercy in your own life. Remember that God loves you and His mercy is never-ending. Where do you need His mercy the most in your present moment?
Because of the mercy which God has shown us, we should, in turn, show mercy to those around us. We do because God has done. In what area of life can you demonstrate mercy to another person or situation?
PRAYER:
God, thank You for being a merciful God. Thank You for Your mercies that are new every morning. Remind me that even when I sin, You continue to provide a way back to You through Jesus. And teach me how I can show mercy to those around me because of what You’ve done for me. And as I show mercy, may Your mercy shine bright through me and point to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
FOR FURTHER STUDY: Psalm 103:8, Matthew 5:7, James 2:13; 5:11
by: Matt Brashier