The Biblical Dictionary continues, the next word up is 'mercy'.
Last week we spoke about 'grace'. The words grace and mercy are often used synonymously. They are usually paired to together and in church you rarely hear one said without the other. Two words that are almost locked together to describe the basic nature of God. If you have not read last week's blog on grace, please go to my website and check it out.
But today we are going to focus on 'mercy'. Mercy is defined as compassion and forgiveness given when it is within someone's power to punish or harm. Leniency and clemency are words that come to mind, when I think of mercy. A judge can show mercy by giving a lighter sentence or by getting rid of the sentence all together.
The biblical definition of mercy is very similar to the dictionary's definition. Simply put mercy is forgiveness. But God's mercy goes above just forgiveness. It also envelopes His love, His compassion and His kindness to man kind. To people who are not perfect, to sinners, to the average everyday person just like you and me.
What makes God's mercy so astounding is that none of us deserve it. We have all fallen short in one way or another. And He gives it to us anyway. Not because of anything we've done. This is just one of the ways that Gods shows us how much He loves us.
In order to receive God's mercy all we have to do is accept His free gift of salvation. Which is accepting God for who He is and accepting Jesus Christ for all He did for us. This opens you to God's mercy. God totally forgiving you for all of your sins without judgement. Instantly and forever, He gives you a clean slate and He forgets all your wrongs.
Having faith in Christ is the key. God wants to show His mercy to each and everyone of us. We just have to accept Him, repent and believe. God gives us His grace and mercy anew everyday. He gives it to us freely, so that we can hopefully learn to be merciful to ourselves and to those around us. Forgiveness is so freeing and refreshing.
It's already yours, try God today.
Hebrews 4:1616Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Luke 6:3636Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
Matthew 5:77Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
James 2:13 13For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
Matthew 9:1313But 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.
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