There’s something so sad when a person chooses to walk away from the Lord Jesus, even more difficult than grief of a loved one who was strong in the Lord.
For there is blessed hope of meeting again for the soul safe in the salvation of Christ Jesus.
But when someone who has heard the truth of the Gospel throws off those things meant for their protection, their good, their security in Jesus Christ, it rends the heart of those who love them.
My first response, after the sorrow is wonder.
Did they miss the scriptures which warn us of the dangers of rejecting God?
1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 NKJV — For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.
Don’t they understand that their actions are planting seeds into their future?
Galatians 6:7 KJV — Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Have they missed the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus to save them from sin?
Acts 4:10-12 NKJV — “let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Why choose a life of wickedness, for there is only righteousness for us through Jesus?
1 Corinthians 1:30 KJV — But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
At the end of all my questions, the facts remain that they’ve heard the truth and turned aside.
Whatever their reason for choosing to walk outside of God’s Word and in rejection of Him, their choices hurt those who love them.
Personally, I have watched many people choose this, and can’t understand why.
It never gets easier to experience.
Yet, my heart is encouraged by those who walk through extraordinarily difficult things with perseverance and joy.
Those individuals who have suffered and yet continue to praise the Lord.
Those who walk through persecution, loss, abuse, abandonment, and all kinds of trials yet their faith continues to grow.
They are those who refuse to see themselves as victims, refuse to fall into selfishness, refuse to abandon the Lord Jesus and His salvation.
Instead, they are humble, patient in affliction, full of forgiveness and love, always seeking opportunity to serve those around them, sharing the Gospel through word and deed.
While my heart continues to seek the Lord on behalf of those who have rejected the truth, I’m comforted by those faithful to the Lord Jesus.
Most of all, I’m inspired by the Lord Jesus and His faithfulness.
He died that those who believe should have everlasting life.
2 Corinthians 5:15 KJV — And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
True repentance comes out of one’s clear understanding that God is holy and I am a sinner.
Luke 18:13 KJV — And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
This parable, told by Jesus, is an example of each person who has recognized their sin and called upon the Lord’s mercy.
Throughout scripture we see that God is merciful.
Exodus 34:6 KJV — And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
Deuteronomy 4:31 KJV — (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.
Nehemiah 9:31 KJV — Nevertheless for thy great mercies’ sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God.
Yet, we must not take God’s merciful nature for granted and purposely transgress His commandments expecting to call upon His mercy after the choosing to walk in sin.
Mercy is not a license to live as we think best.
Rebellion brings harsh consequences as both the country of Israel and Judah learned.
Yet, throughout the rebellion of those nations God had prophets warning the people of their coming discipline, offering mercy for those who would repent and turn away from wickedness.
He is the same God today that He was then.
For those who have yet to repent, He’s calling.
For those who have seen the error of their ways and stood before Him with humility and true repentance we have tasted of His mercy.
May we always cherish the incredible nature of God and bring glory to His name through our daily walks with Him.
Psalm 116:5 KJV — Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your mercy. Thank You for Your continuing work to reach those who have yet to know You. Lord Jesus, thank You for Your love and compassion, how longsuffering You are, for Your understand our poor state and want to redeem us from our own sin. Lord Jesus, thank You that You are God alone. There is none like You and there never will be. Thank You for Your mercy and grace. Thank You for salvation. Thank You for the hope of eternity with You. Thank You! I love You, Jesus! Amen.
Like the salty spray can wear away rock, so can bitterness erode love in the heart of a child of God.
Jonah was a prophet of the Most High. 2 Kings 14:25
The Lord gave him a specific prophecy.
Jonah 1:1-2 NKJV — Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.”
Unfortunately, Jonah choose disobedience.
Jonah 1:3 NKJV — But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
The Lord was merciful and sent a storm, then a fish. Jonah 1:4-17, 2
For the Lord corrects His children.
My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction; For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights. Proverbs 3:11-12 NKJV
Then He speaks to Jonah again.
Jonah 3:1-2NKJV — Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.”
This time Jonah obeys and his message is a difficult one.
Jonah 3:4 NKJV — And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”
These pagan people turn and repent, including their king.
Jonah 3:7-9 NKJV — And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, “Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?”
God was merciful.
Jonah 3:10 NKJV — Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.
Jonah not only experienced God’s mercy himself, he saw God extend mercy to an entire city which had previously been enemies of His people.
With such incredible works of God, one would expect His servant to rejoice.
But that’s not what happened.
Jonah 4:1-3 NKJV — But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. So he prayed to the LORD, and said, “Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm. Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!”
Jonah couldn’t rejoice in the saving of the city, because he didn’t want it saved.
In Jonah, we see what happens to a child of God who allows bitterness to take root.
Bitterness, towards these enemies of his nation, had robbed him of his ability to love and trust God knew what was best.
In his heart he knew God’s character, but he wanted judgment not mercy.
The human heart is often at odds with the Word of God, for at the same time we want mercy and grace for ourselves and our loved ones, but we want judgment and punishment for those who have hurt us.
But that is not what God calls His people to.
James 3:9-10 NKJV — With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
Matthew 5:44-45 NKJV — “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Jonah is a warning for us, to not allow bitterness to override our love and devotion to God.
Rather, we need to be quick to forgive those who have wronged us, placing our trust in God, who sees all, even the depth of each heart.
For we can not truly love God if we are holding on to bitterness.
Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. Romans 12:19-21 NLT
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for the story of Jonah. Lord, I am amazed at Your mercy and grace throughout. You use Jonah’s disobedience, You save an entire city of wicked people, You even teach Your stubborn hard hearted servant a lesson. Thank You! Lord, please help us to learn from these things. Help us to be quick to forgive, honest with ourselves and You when we are hurting. Lord, please teach us how to love our enemies. Please shine Your truth into this dark world and let those who have yet to know You come to a knowledge of You, Lord. Please work through Your children to bring the message of hope to this world. Thank You. Amen.
Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. Jonah 1:1-2 KJV
The book of Jonah opens with God’s mercy.
Their wickedness has been seen and God’s response is to send His prophet to that place.
Jonah was an Israelite who lived in the days of the kings.
2 Kings 14:23,25 KJV —23 In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria, and reigned forty and one years. 25 He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gathhepher.
God is both righteous and merciful, thus He sent a warning to these people by His prophet.
But His prophet didn’t want the people of Nineveh to hear God’s warning.
He wanted them to experience the judgement and have no opportunity to receive mercy.
Jonah 1:3 KJV — But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
The character of God is so full of mercy that He didn’t allow Jonah to remain in his sinful choice of “fleeing”.
(Scripture makes it clear there is no place we can go to “get away” from God. Psalm 139:7-10 KJV)
Instead, God sent a set of circumstances which Jonah could not ignore.
Jonah 1:4 KJV — But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.
The sailors are terrified and begin to call on their gods, then they realize there’s this passenger whose sleeping in the ship, not crying out to his God.
Jonah 1:6 KJV — So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.
These sailors sense this storm is nothing normal.
Jonah 1:7 KJV — And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.
Jonah knew God was in this and he tells the men to throw him over board, but the sailors don’t want Jonah’s blood on their hands.
So, they try to save themselves by their own efforts.
Jonah 1:13 KJV — Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.
God uses Jonah’s rebellion to bring a ship load of men to knowledge of Him.
Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee. So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging. Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows. Jonah 1:14-16 KJV
God’s mercy on Jonah’s disobedience is used to spread mercy on a group of foreigner sailors.
But Jonah also feels the consequences of his sin.
Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Jonah 1:17 KJV
Most of chapter two of the book of Jonah is his prayer to the Lord.
Jonah 2:1-2KJV — Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly, And said, “I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.”
There’s a debate as to whether Jonah was alive or actually suffered death during his time in the great fish, but either way the stunning part of this is the mercy of God.
And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land. Jonah 2:10 KJV
God’s patience is apparent,in that He again speaks to Jonah.
And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days’ journey. And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. Jonah 3:1-4 KJV
The next part is incredible.
So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? Jonah 3:5-9 KJV
These people are pagan and don’t even worship God, but they humble themselves and are saved.
And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not. Jonah 3:10 KJV
Truly, God is a merciful and compassionate God.
Psalm 86:15 KJV — But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
As followers of Christ Jesus we need to understand the character of God and to reflect it in our own.
If God is both merciful and righteous, so we should be.
Proverbs 21:21 KJV — He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for the story of Jonah. Lord, thank You that we see both justice and mercy in this story. Thank You that You used Jonah’s disobedience to reach a bunch of sailors. Lord, I don’t want to suffer the consequences of disobedience. I don’t want to sin against You in any way. Lord, please guide me and teach my wayward heart how to be quick to love, steady I’m compassion, wise, discerning, and merciful. Lord, thank You that You can use even my mistakes to teach me about mercy. Lord, let me never take it for granted, but always remember the high price You paid. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.
For when we choose to sin, or ignore our sin, we are deceiving ourselves.
“It’s just a little white lie…”
“It won’t hurt anyone else…”
“Just once won’t matter…”
These false words lead to destruction.
No one can hide sin from God and it never is contained.
The example of leaven in dough is how sin works into every part of our lives.
Galatians 5:9 NKJV — A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
Thus, we must beware of those things which God says are sin.
1 John 2:16 NKJV — For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
We must be on guard against such, being diligent to seek first the kingdom of God.
Knowing that it is easy for a little sin to corrupt our whole perspective.
1 Corinthians 5:7-8 KJV — Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Only through the Lord Jesus can we be made clean from our sins.
Romans 5:8 NKJV — But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God knows we need help to be able to learn how to walk in this truth, thus He gave us His Word and His Holy Spirit.
It is through God’s Word and the Holy Spirit we are able to discern between right and wrong, truth and lie, good and evil.
John 16:7-11NKJV — “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
John 16:13 NKJV — “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
Hebrews 4:12 NKJV — For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
For sin destroys, but God has provided an escape from sin.
God’s love is compassionate and His Word is our guide.
And we can choose to put off those things of the world and put on Christ Jesus.
1 John 2:17 NKJV — And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for truth. Lord, please continue to show me sin, that I might turn away from it. Lord, help me to listen when the still small voice speaks. Lord, I want to obey You in all areas of my life. I want to honor You with every part of myself. For You paid such a high price for me. Please, help me to beware of sin. Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness, Your mercy, Your grace, Your patience, and Your salvation. Truly, You are amazing!
Yesterday morning, the Lord spoke clearly to my heart.
He was reminding me of truth and warning me.
I needed to trust and not allow fear, at all.
To rest in His will and be willing to obey in all things, was the direction.
In the morning, I felt able to walk in this.
By the afternoon, I had slid backwards with my attitude and I didn’t even realize it.
At some point, I’d taken my eyes off of Jesus and was trying to do things in my own strength.
God was faithful, all day long.
He continued to guide and direct me.
He continued to speak softly and at one point, He clearly told me to change what I was doing.
I did and my attitude improved greatly.
But it wasn’t until bedtime I saw myself fully.
As we were praying together, it was clearly before me.
I hadn’t walked in His words throughout the day.
I had forgotten His warning and had allowed myself to grow discontent with my circumstances.
I had pushed myself into activity, instead of resting in God’s hands and trusting Him to do all.
Thus, I’d disobeyed His warning from my morning quiet time.
My heart was ashamed, and I confessed before the Lord and my family my wrong.
God’s forgiveness is amazing!
My heart was encouraged, that although I’d failed in that day, God was giving me another chance.
Today is that chance.
Today, I can surrender to the Lord, and walk in contentment and obedience.
Today, God is giving me another chance.
Lamentations 3:22-23 NKJV — Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for Your compassion, understanding, patience, and mercy. Lord, please help me to obey You throughout my day, not allowing myself to slide into old ways and forgetting Your truth. Lord, I’m ashamed that I failed yesterday, but I’m so thankful for Your mercy and this new day. Thank You. Lord, in my struggles with self discipline, I humbly ask that You teach this stubborn heart. Lord, continue to help me to be humble before You, quick to listen and quick to obey. Please continue to polish me that I might reflect You to those around me, especially my own family who see me at my worst. Lord, I want to pick up my cross and follow You with joy, thankfulness, and humility. Please help me to do so today. Again, thank You for Your faithfulness, compassion, and mercy. Amen.
Matthew 5:7 NKJV — Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
Mercy is often misunderstood or misused.
When someone is truly seeking mercy from God, they are repentant, humble, and well aware of their transgressions.
Proverbs 28:13 NKJV — He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.
Psalm 25:7 NKJV — Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; According to Your mercy remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O LORD.
Truly seeking God’s mercy equals an acceptance of one’s status of commiting acts which bring penalty.
It’s not a place where the proud go, because pride throws out any acceptance of wrong doing.
Numbers 14:18 NKJV — ‘The LORD is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation.’
Thus, the prideful can not receive mercy, for they refuse it.
Nehemiah 1:5 NKJV — And I said: “I pray, LORD God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments,
Those who admit the truth of their sins are able to find incredible, long lasting mercy.
Daniel 9:9 NKJV — “To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him.
Acknowledging God’s truth, walking in understanding of our just deserves, and then being freed by the gift of God brings one to praise.
1 Chronicles 16:34 NKJV — Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
Psalm 13:5 NKJV — But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
Psalm 23:6 NKJV — Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.
Once the heart and mind have grasped the gift; the debt is paid, mercy has come, we are expected to be people of mercy.
Hosea 6:6 NKJV — For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
The Lord wants our hearts, not just our actions.
He wants us to know Him so we’ll that we live daily as He would.
Giving mercy.
Forgiving others.
Loving with understanding, not blind to the sin, but not hardened towards the sinner.
Jonah 2:8 NKJV — “Those who regard worthless idols Forsake their own Mercy.
Love tells the truth.
Micah 6:8 NKJV — He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?
Zechariah 7:9 NKJV — “Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Execute true justice, Show mercy and compassion Everyone to his brother.'”
When we walk in obedience and humility, not taking God’s mercy for granted, life is good.
Micah 7:18 NKJV — Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy.
Praise the Lord!
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your mercy. It’s such an incredible gift and blessing. Lord, please help me never to refuse to show mercy as You have shown me so much! Lord, please continue to open my heart and mind to Your Word, that I might better understand You and what it means to walk with You daily. Lord, please soften anything in my heart where I am refusing the truth or being blind to my own sin. Please help me to repent quickly. Lord, I do not want to sin against You or others. Thank You for helping me. I love You, Jesus. Amen
1 Samuel 15:22 NKJV — So Samuel said: “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.”
Here we see Samuel answering King Saul.
God had spoken directly to Samuel and the instruction was clear, King Saul was to go and wipe out the enemy.
But King Saul decided God’s command wasn’t the best way and proceeded to keep back the best animals.
When questioned by Samuel his response shows his heart.
Then Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed are you of the LORD! I have performed the commandment of the LORD.”
He had not obeyed, but instead done what he thought was best.
Samuel wasn’t going to allow even the king to transgress the command of the Lord.
1 Samuel 15:14 NKJV — But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?”
And when called to account King Saul doesn’t humble himself.
1 Samuel 15:15 NKJV — And Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice to the LORD your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.”
It is here Samuel speaks the verse which can be applied to every heart:
“…Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.” 1 Samuel 15:22b
God wants our hearts to be so devoted to Him that obedience is our first choice.
The Lord expands this idea by speaking through the prophet Hosea.
Hosea 6:6 NKJV — For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
To be a follower of God, one is to reflect God in their own lives, their attitudes and actions.
God is merciful and He wants us to be merciful as well.
God is loving and He wants us to be loving.
God teaches us through His Word, because through it we are given the instruction on how to live as He designed us and He wants us to follow and teach others.
God became flesh and dwelt among us to teach us and to give us an example for our everyday.
He wants us to follow Him.
Matthew 12:7 NKJV — “But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.
Matthew 9:13 KJV — But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
May we each one be inspired to obedience and mercy as well as sacrifice.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for Your example to each one of us. Thank You for loving us so deeply that You paid the price for our sins. Lord Jesus, please help me to learn from Your Word each day. To understand the truths of scripture. Please help me to obey Your Word, to walk in mercy and knowledge of You. Lord, You do not want hollow service which has no substance. You want true devotion of the innermost. I want to give You that, every day. Please help me to do so, whatever it costs. Thank You, Jesus. I love You. Amen.
Micah 6:8 NKJV — He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for showing us what is good. Thank You for reminding us that serving You is best. Only in You can we find justice, mercy, and truth. Lord, please help us to walk humbly, not just now, but every day of our lives. Please help us to put off pride, envy, and selfishness. Please remind and train our hearts to be focused upon Your Word and walking daily with You. Lord, if there’s anything sinful, anything which does not revere You in our hearts, please show it to us that we might repent. Help us to be quick to flee from evil and steadfast in putting off wickedness in every form. Please continue to train and hone us into Your perfect image. Thank You for Your long suffering. Thank You for Your unfailing love. I praise You, Lord. Thank You for all Your wonderous ways!
Matthew 5:43-45 NKJV — “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’. But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
God gives us direction in His Word for life and how to live.
Here He instructs us on how to love and give grace.
It’s like the rain, it should fall on everyone.
God makes it clear, we are to remember His grace for us and to extend it to others.
Psalm 145:9 KJV — The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.
Of course, like all things God calls us to do, it comes with wisdom and discernment.
Matthew 7:6 NKJV — “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.
Therefore, while walking in God’s grace and mercy, we treasure it for what it is, not trampling or shredding the priceless gift of God: salvation through Jesus Christ.
We also have the privilege to extend the same grace we enjoy to those around us, not exposing others or ourselves to evil and passing it off as good, but instead calling out evil and loving the sinner whose life is being strangled by that same evil.
Because true love, as exampled in Christ Jesus, reaches out to the sinner.
Romans 5:8 KJV — But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Talk about amazing, costly grace!
Jesus paid a high price to extend it to us.
For those of us who enjoy this grace, may we be quick to share it.
God’s grace showered upon us is truly a wonderful blessing.
John 1:17 KJV — For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You so much for Your awesome gift of grace and mercy. How small is my understanding of what a costly gift it is, but I humbly thank You for it. Lord Jesus, please help me to remain humble before You and to remember that mankind does not see the heart, only You can. It is against the pride ridden nature of my sinful heart to want to extend grace to others, but You call me to love the same as You do. Please, Lord, help me to walk in this and continue to teach my heart Your ways. Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness and love. Thank You for this new day in which to learn more about loving as You do. I love You, Jesus. Amen.
patientlyhopeful 