God’s Mercy Endures Forever


Česky: Kříže - symbol utrpení Ježíše Krista a ...

God’s Mercy Endures Forever

 

 

 

MATTHEW 12:20, “A bruised reed shall he not break, and a smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgement unto victory.”

 

 

 

MATTHEW 12:15-21, MARK 3:7-19, LUKE 6:12-16

One of the ways in which God‘s goodness is revealed is in mercy. We may describe mercy as the readiness of God to relieve the misery of fallen creatures. Many times, mercy is called compassion or loving kindness. It is expressed toward the sinner because of the misery that sin has brought upon him.

The “reed” referred to in this passage is probably speaking of the reeds that grew in the marshy areas in the land of Palestine. These were very fragile and could be easily bruised or broken. The term “smoking flax” refers to a linen wick which was made from flax and burned brightly when floating on oil in an open lamp. However, when the oil was depleted, the flax would just smoke until the oil was replenished.

The meaning of these illustrations is that Jesus is ministering in mercy to those who have been bruised or broken (Lk. 4:18), and to those who have lost their oil (spirit). He has come to fill them anew (Mt. 5:3; Acts 1:5; 2:4). The Jews were used to the judgment of the law but Jesus came to minister grace and truth (Jn. 1:17), even to the Gentiles (Mt. 12:18, 21).

God’s mercy to the believer is revealed by His act of taking away the misery of sin’s consequences through the New Covenant of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is given to us because of God’s mercy. It’s not something we’ve merited or earned. As the Apostle Paul states, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to HIS MERCY He saved us” (Ti. 3:5). God is for you, not against you. Cast all of your care upon Him, because His mercy endureth forever!

 

 

May the LORD bless Nigeria, American and Israel and take care of us; May the LORD make His face shine upon us, And be gracious to us; May the Lord lift up His countenance upon us, And give us peace, In Jesus Christ Name, we pray! Amen!

God is merciful


Stained glass at St John the Baptist's Anglica...

Image via Wikipedia

God is Merciful

God’s Rich Mercy

“Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.”

(Ephesians 2:4-5)

Scott was a teenage gang member who lived in an eastern U.S. city. At 14 years old, he killed another gang member in a street fight. He was convicted and sent to a juvenile prison. While there, he attended a Bible study. Scott soon recognized that God’s mercy extended even to him. Though feeling terribly unworthy, he received Christ as His Savior.

While in the juvenile prison, he met regularly for Bible study. Still in his teens when he was released, he did not want to go back to the inner city environment. Extending God’s mercy, the Bible study leader took Scott into the home he and his wife had established as a discipling center for young men who showed genuine commitment to Jesus Christ while in prison.

Scott spent two years there. He made such progress – completing his high school degree and growing as a Christian young man – that he was accepted as a student at a well-known Christian college. As a student, he began sharing the love and mercy of God with other young men incarcerated in the state juvenile detention centers. Now, he wants to minister to inner city youth who are without hope.

God’s mercy does not end with the forgiveness of our sins. He has a plan for our lives that will bring us to maturity in His grace. Have you experienced God’s rich mercy? He gives it in unlimited abundance.

Your View of God Really Matters …

Whether you are a “good” person or guilty of horrible sins, you are still in desperate need of God’s daily mercy. Recount areas in your life where you need God’s mercy, then thank Him by faith for it. Now let God pass on His rich mercy to others through you.

Psalm 69:16; Psalm 119:132; Matthew 18:23-35

Because God is merciful,

He forgives me of my sins when I sincerely confess them.