Today is an absolutely beautiful Sunday. The sky is a clear spring blue, the sun is shining and a light breeze is making every breath fresh and exhilarating. It's the kind of day that makes me smile and reminds me of God's mercy and grace.
Mercy, in the biblical sense, is God's divine decision to not give us what we deserve. To avoid sounding "preachy," I am going to make it personal. God did not give me what I deserved. For so many years I attended church, was active in the church, but was not really living a lifestyle that reflected God's standards for living. I was "picking and choosing" the parts of the Bible that fit what I wanted to do, and making excuses for my actions that were in contradiction with biblical teaching. I was also very good at seeing, and pointing out, the "speck" in someone else's eye while ignoring the "beam" that was in mine (Matthew 7: 3).
God showed me mercy. He did not "throw me away" when I was in my self-righteous state. God protected me from myself on multiple occasions, while also allowing me to experience some of the consequences of doing things my way. I say "some" of the consequences because if it were not for his grace, I know I would not be alive right now. The balance between God's mercy and his divine way of correction eventually got my attention. Something had to change...that "something" was me! I now know that it is far better living for God instead of in opposition to God.
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