The mercy of God

Abba Father, we thank you for Your Word, may its revelation and interpretation become alive to us as we read it In the name of Jesus Christ.

Today's lead Scripture is from Psalm 147:10-11 NKJV

10.He does not delight in the strength of the horse;

He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.

11.The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him,

In those who hope in His mercy.

AMEN

When I was reading this Word, I could not help but wonder how it's a reflection of God's grace He has freely given us His children. When I ponder on the love of a Mom or Dad, it is not conditional based on the child's behaviour. When I was in secondary school, I remember getting in very serious trouble and my parents were extremely displeased with me to say the least. However, despite receiving my punishment, I don't remember my parents telling me to sleep outside the house or go to bed hungry because of my act of disobedience in school. They were angry at me but that did not mean they loved me any less. I had to ask for their forgiveness for my disobedience in school, but not forgiveness so that they could unconditionally love me again.

Jesus Christ tells us in Luke 11:13 "if you being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

Ephesians 2:4-5 portrays God's ultimate love for us and it says, "But God who is rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us, 5) even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)."

Often times when we miss the mark in our lives, thoughts may desire for you to think that God's love is far from you but may I remind you that God's love for us as His children is not based on our actions. For this very reason, Apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us; "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

Friend, God's grace and mercy saved us and gave us eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ. "Not the strength of the horse or the pleasure in the legs of a man" as seen in today's lead Scripture.

We may not have deemed ourselves worthy based off of our actions or past choices but God saw us worthy and His love for you and I continues to this day and will never fail.

At the same time, does God's love for us translate to living in sin and according to our pleasures that displease Him? The answer is simply no. The above Word for the day tells us that "the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy".

I'm sure we may agree that we don't deliberately hurt people we truly love. If this principle can apply to our human relationships, may I submit to you that it also applies to our relationship with the Almighty God, the One whose love and mercy for us endures forever (Psalm 136:1), the One who loved us before we ever loved Him.

I'll end with this Word in Romans 6:1-2 NKJV

"1.What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

2.Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?"

Thank you LORD for Your mercy.