 ‘I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. Exodus 32:19.’
Heads of states and rulers have the power to grant clemency or pardon to criminals. What this means is that the head of state releases a convicted criminal from the punishment due for their offence. He sets them free.
In the Bible, God is presented to us as a merciful God. In Exodus 34:5-7, God appeared to Moses and proclaimed His (God’s) name to Moses. In introducing Himself, He made the following statements ‘The Lord! the Lord! a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving-kindness and truth.’ Amplified Bible (Emphasis added).
God introduced Himself as 'a God merciful and gracious..'. Merciful describes someone who shows kindness and forgiveness to people who are in their power. God told Moses that He the Lord shows kindness and forgiveness to people who are in His power. If He were a human head of state, we would say He pardons the guilty amongst his subjects.
The guilty needs kindness and forgiveness from those they have offended or those who have authority over them. When mercy is withdrawn, the guilty suffers the full wrath of the law. This can mean serving prison sentences, being made to do community service, having certain rights withheld from them and so on. With God, the guilty suffers not only physical punishments but also eternal punishments after physical death.
The Bible states categorically that all of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. Romans 3:23.
There is none righteous amongst us.
God’s throne is not only a throne of judgement.
It is the throne of grace, the seat of mercy upon which God sits and grants us forgiveness because of Jesus. The throne of God's unmerited favour to us sinners. |
On a daily basis we offend each other and God. No matter its size, an offence causes discomfort and hurt to the person offended. Offences can range from minor to major ones that cause great life altering damages. No right thinking human being should want to offend others, but by our nature, we cannot help ourselves. We offend God and our neighbor; we are all guilty and should suffer the punishment of our sins. God is right in punishing us.
The Bible however tells us that God is gracious and that he shows mercy. David said somewhere that God does not visit the full gravity of our sins on us. In line with His good nature, He makes mercy; kindness and forgiveness, total absolution and pardon available to whomever He wills. God can have mercy on whomever He wills and set them free from the effect of their sin, no matter the gravity of their offence.
HOW CAN I OBTAIN MERCY FROM GOD?
The challenge for me however is as follows. I agree that God has mercy on anyone He wills, but how can I as a person make Him will to have mercy on me? How can I become the ‘anyone’ that He will have mercy on? No one is worthy of God’s mercy, for by our regular acts of disobedience against Him, we make ourselves unworthy of mercy. I find comfort in the words of the writer of Hebrews.
‘Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16’
We are told to come boldly unto God’s throne of grace. This reminds me of the name God called His seat situated on the lid of the Ark of the Covenant; The Mercy Seat. God’s throne is not only a throne of judgement it is the throne of Grace, the seat of mercy upon which God sits and grants us forgiveness because of Jesus. The throne of God's unmerited favour to us sinners. The writer goes on to say ‘that we may obtain mercy!’ That is a big relief for me. The God who shows mercy to only those He wills is telling me to come and get it. I am included amongst those who have been shortlisted by the king for mercy!
This is also true for every believer in Christ, for this call was made to the Hebrews who believed in Jesus as God’s messiah. What is true for them in that regard is true for us too though we live thousands of years after them. The basis for our approaching God’s throne for mercy is stated in verse 15 of Hebrews 4.
‘For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning.’ Amplified Bible.
We can approach God for unmerited favour and mercy because of Jesus! Jesus our high priest and advocate before God understands and sympathises with our weaknesses,' infirmities and liability to the assault of temptation'. He knows firsthand that we are weak and that we sin. He was in our shoe but did not sin. This gives Him the power to stand before a Holy God. And He is not just standing there, He is there for us. He is always pleading on our behalf because He understands what we are going through. He pleads with deep compassion. Allow me to say He pleads for us as if He is pleading for His very life. Being the son of God, we know that the father hears Him.
We therefore have the confidence to approach God for mercy. It has been made available by the death and resurrection of Jesus the saviour. As we come, we are not coming to a court presided over by a Judge who is bent on condemning us. We are coming to a loving father who cares for us and has granted us mercy, forgiveness and pardon.
As Christians we do sin, but we know it is not the end of the story for us. Mercy and forgiveness are available in God. He tells us to come and drink from His fountain of mercy. As noted by a friend on facebook, ‘no one who approached for mercy in the Bible was turned back’.
Approach God for mercy today. We are sure that no matter the level and gravity of our sins, forgiveness and pardon are available to us. They are the children’s bread. If God can forgive sinners and make them His children, He will have mercy on His children who asks Him for it. It is not His will to lose a Christian or see us wallow in in guilt and condemnation. Approach Him today for mercy, you will receive it.
Prayer:
Father, through your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ you punished and forgave us our sins. He understands that we are weak and that we still offend you and others. I come before you today for mercy and pardon for my sins. I am sorry about them and ask that you will wipe my records clean. I receive your mercy, forgiveness and grace today. Please help me to be strong and able to resist temptations as they come my way. Help me to have a clear conscience. Let me drink from your pool of mercy daily. I thank you for granting me mercy through your Son my saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
|
