Exodus 33; Proverbs 9; John 12; Ephesians 2
Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
God is a Benefactor who is rich in mercy. Mercy is the attribute of God whereby he does not give us what we deserve. We have not always loved him supremely. We have allowed other loves to come between us and our Creator. We have lived as if he did not even exist for periods of time. We have ignored him and broken his holy law. If God were to always give us what we deserve, he would have consumed Adam and Eve and been done with us all! But he is rich in mercy. You and I struggle to show mercy to others when we see them do wrong. God is rich in mercy.
His mercy flows from his great love wherewith he loved us. The Bible tells us that God is love (1 John 4:8). He has a great love for us that does not make sense because we are not lovely! As a matter of fact, we were dead in sins. Can you imagine the great love of God for a dead man? How overwhelming to think of this great love of his that I do not deserve. You and I find it a challenge sometimes to love those who love us and yet, God loves even his enemies!
Luke 6:32, 35-36 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
Not only does God love us and show us mercy, but he also gives us life in Jesus Christ. Dead, sinful people receive the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. It is God who quickens us! Remember how God raised the three day dead body of Jesus? If we trust in Christ, God gives us life together with Christ. This is a grace gift that God gives to us. Dead sinners do not save themselves. God saves sinners because of his amazing grace!
This is the rich, great, merciful and loving work of God! We are saved! That is a past tense verb! It means that it is already done and it is done forever! Are you saved? Thank God and share the mercy, love and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ with someone today.
In Christ,
Rody
