Thursday, August 27, 2015
Mercy Is Good
Today when we think of mercy many different images can come to mind. For some it might be the workings of missionary physicians helping the poor around the world. For some it might be kindness shown to prisoners of war. For others it could be the assistance from the government in times of need like national disaster. We as believers have a model of mercy from almost the beginning of time. God was merciful to mankind at the garden when we rebelled against God and believed the enemy more than we did what He had instructed. Instead of wiping man out and starting over, He gave us the opportunity to learn and grow.
Genesis 3:8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.
9 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
13 And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
14 And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.
Yahuah (Lord) would have been justified to kill us off and start over. But instead He chose to allow us to live and to learn from Him. We are all on that original journey, trying to learn His ways and walk in them. We are each successful to varying degrees and at different times. But there is good news. God is on our side. All we have to do is trust Him.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Our God deals with us not according to who we are, but according to who He is.
Psalms 103:10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
For that, we can be thankful.
Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are our God and our King. We need You and Your kingdom in our lives. You alone are worthy to be praised, and we praise the name Yahuah!. Send us today Your overwhelming provision, and let us bless others as well. Forgive us our sins. Heal our hearts and minds. Deliver us from the evil that steals from us and afflicts us. Destroy such evil in the earth on our behalf Father. Come quickly with a strong hand and outstretched arm to deliver Your people. In Yeshuah’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.