By the Mercies of God

By the Mercies of God 

by David Brenneman 

"compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm." 

A week ago I was on my way to the bank to make a deposit.  While on my way, I observed a police vehicle.  Didn't think too much of it since that's to be expected.  I wasn't speeding, in fact, with the obvious influx of people in the area due to a game I was driving intentionally slower.  However this particular police vehicle pulled out behind me and was there for some time. I looked in my rear view mirror and the lights came on.  What had I done?  Driving too slow?  I pulled over into a safe place and as I had been instructed when dealing with the police, put my truck in park and left my hands on the steering wheel.  No sudden moves.  She came along the drivers side and I motioned that I have crank windows.  She certainly seemed to be in a good mood. She laughingly asked "Hi there...did you have a birthday recently?"  I groaned and looked up at the ceiling of my truck.  It all fell into place.  I had forgotten to get my tags. 

Before I could say much more than it had been a very intense week, she assured me that it was ok. She was giving me a warning and offered several choices to get it rectified.  I thanked her and after she left I thanked God for that reminder and asked Him to forgive me for my forgetfulness.  I finished going to the bank and parked the truck until I could figure out what to do next. 

The owner of where I work, upon telling him this story said "that's the difference between justice and mercy".  

Quite easily I could have been fined.  

Quite easily she could have been in a bad mood, could have been having a bad day.

All throughout your day you need to be looking for the mercies of God.  Those moments and things that He doesn't mete out justice towards us that we so easily deserve.

We deserve the justice of God just as much as anyone who's born in sin.  We deserve that punishment that Jesus took on the cross.  We deserve it, but, my Friend are you living in appreciation for the mercy bestowed upon your life that you're probably taking for granted?

God's mercies are new every morning. 

"The Lord’s acts of mercy indeed do not end, For His compassions do not fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23.

So again are you at all aware of what COULD be happening in your life that isn't?

Are you at all considering the truth of what you DO deserve?  Oh and you DO deserve it!  

Grace is God's unmerited favor. It's often referred to as God's Riches At Christ's Expense.

We just do not consider for even a single heartbeat the mercies of God. 

We just think that our personal happiness is paramount.  That our peace is one of if not the highest priority.  

We really don't take stock in the rest of the truth of God's word concerning how to live life.  

Even Christians are severely guilty of doing what is right in their own eyes. 

Read the Old Testament...why was Jesus so lamenting of His chosen people?  They kept on being stiff-necked over life.

Kept on doing whatever was right in their own eyes.  Kept on serving other gods. 

But you don't do that! Or do you?

Christians don't have other gods do they?

A job can be a god. A sport can be a god.

Movies can be a god.  My Dear Reader, anything or anyone that can be elevated above God in your life...is a god in your life. 

People don't realize just what constitutes worship.  When passion, devotion, energy, is given to anyone or anything more than it's given to Jesus then its idolatry. 

One of the most horrific things that I was ever told in Church by a brother in Christ about my not being a fan of that Ohio State football team was "I'll pray for you about that".  

Oh if only we would have a more healthy view of God's mercies.  

But truth be told...would it matter to you?

Mercies were often given and shown by Jesus in the Old Testament and the people didn't recognize it or acknowledge it for very long.

Look in the mirror.  How are you dressed? Are you dressed with respect to your position in Christ?  I realize this is going to cause some people to want to argue...but do you wear clothing that promotes idolatry?  

God's grace and mercy should never ever be taken for granted. 

What we do in this world for Jesus is what matters and the attitude with which we do it.  All the idolatrous things that were so much a part of our lives will be burned up. 

All those hours of movie and television watching...all those sporting events...everything that took place that had nothing to do with positively impacting our sanctification in Christ are going up in flames. 

Will there be enough left to form a crown to toss at Jesus's feet?  

Take time today to really be real with yourself and your Savior.  Maybe it's time you had a wake-up call like my traffic stop.

Maybe it is time for an unrestricted makeover of your heart.

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.