Grace and Mercy

Grace. Mercy. Most of the time when we see or hear these words, we envision an “after the fact” extension towards someone who has wronged someone else. The Prodigal son (Grace and Mercy); King David (Grace and Mercy); Mary Magdalene (Mercy and Grace). As the gospel song says, “Mercy there was great and grace was free. Pardon there was multiplied to me. There my burdened soul found liberty, at Calvary.” God is so good and even after the most egregious sin; one can find grace, “getting what we don’t deserve” and mercy, “not getting what we do deserve”.

There is a side to grace and mercy, however that we do not often see, realize or think about. In Hebrews 4, verse 16 we see two sides of grace and mercy. Both are extended but both are also available not only in remedial situations, but are also available for preventative means.

I love it when my children come to me with their problems. There have been times when they’ve come to me and said, “Dad I really messed up and I’m so sorry. Please forgive me!” After pondering on the billions of times God has forgiven me, I’ve quickly and gladly extend grace and mercy when needed.

But there are also times when before they mess up that they come to me for counsel, before doing something that they’d be ashamed of. In those cases grace and mercy act as spiritual guardians.

When a child comes and says, “Dad, I’m struggling with this or that. Help me please.” A loving father would say, “thank you for trusting me and for wanting to do the right thing.” Then the father would impart all of the wisdom and guidance that he could to help his child succeed. He would also provide the means and tools to protect his child from the harm of ever succumbing to that temptation again. His grace – reaching out in love; His mercy – protecting from harm.

Father God extends grace and mercy when we’ve blown it, but He yearns for our “time of need” to be more and more during the battle, not after it. Today, make your way to the throne of His grace and mercy and experience them not only as a healing balm, but as protective coverings from a loving Father.

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)

Teacher Don't You Care

“Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" Mark 4:38-40 (NIV)

Studies have shown that the lack of sleep can do everything from lessen an athlete’s ability to do their best, to bringing on feelings of paranoia to making a person lose the ability to act and think coherently. And although it leaves no physical marks, the psychological effects of sleep deprivation can disrupt every physiologic function in the body.

The body needs rest. Father God rested (Genesis 2:4). Jesus rested and encouraged His disciples to rest (Mark 6:31, 46). We are made in the image of God and He created our bodies. Therefore He knows what we need. Just as there is a rest that is good and necessary for our physical bodies and without it can affect and even destroy our bodies, the need for rest for our soul and is no less important. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us, “Do not be anxious”. 1 Peter 5:7 tells us to place all of our cares on the Lord and again, Psalm 46:11 exhorts us to “be still and know that He is God”! Matthew 11:29 reminds us that true rest for our souls, comes from the Lord: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Just like the need for physical rest assumes that we have been active, the need for spiritual rest assumes that we have been active as well in a spiritual battle. Sometimes we are on the defensive, (Ephesians 6) and sometimes we are on the offensive (James 4:7). One of the keys to rest is emptying ourselves of all distractions and focusing on something, someone that is calm, serene and restorative.

In the midst of whatever battle you find yourself in today, take courage in the words of this Hymn -

“ O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.”
(Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus – Public Domain)

My you rest in the shadow of His wings today….

Finishing Well

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race,

I have keep the Faith.

(2 Tim. 4:7 NIV)

If I were able to offer people my age one thought to hold close to their hearts, it would be expressed in just two simple, yet powerful words: Finish well.

Throughout history we have examples of men and women who began their journeys as husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, pastors, businessmen, and friends with a bang. Life was good and they were at the top of their game in every area of life. Their walk with God was good, their relationships with their wives/husbands and children seemed to be second to none. Their zest for life was energized simply by waking up in the morning. Then something happened, the circumstances of life took over and some, sadly enough, ended their journey here, sad, burnout, brokenhearted, rejected and alone.

Finishing well begins by viewing life not as a sprint, but rather as a marathon. Sprinting through life puts the weight of completion on our shoulders and when circumstances cause us to trip and fall, we become disillusioned, convince ourselves that we deserve better and we often feel like failures and ultimately, many times give up. Realizing that life is a marathon helps us to make it through the pit falls of life and get up again, not to give up, but rather to continue towards the finish line of life, longing to hear the most important duel words in eternity, well done.

Satan would have us think that we should rush though life and get all we can before the other guy gets it and all the while destroying anyone or thing that gets in our way. He also wants us to think that happiness should be our goal in life. Jesus on the other hand set the example of the marathon in life that takes one day, one moment, one circumstance, one person at a time, keeping our eyes on the “Author and Finisher of our faith!” (Hebrews 12:2) He also told us to expect trouble, not happiness. (see John 16:33)

Where are you today? Are you on the sidelines, tired, unhappy, bruised and injured after a long sprint? My friend, it’s not over, it’s far from over. Extend your hand out and our Lord and a trusted brother or sister in Christ will join hands with you and help you to the finish line. Are you running well? Slow down and take a moment to pick someone else up and don’t rush through life so fast that you forget that you won’t truly finish well unless you bring someone else across the finish line with you. This week, purpose anew not only to finish, but by the grace of God to finish well. And along with that know that God is more concerned with your holiness than your happiness.

I Stand In Awe

“Then the LORD said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son."

Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, "After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?"”

Genesis 18:10-12

It continually makes me stand in awe as I think that the King of kings and Lord of lords loves me. And not that he loves me alone, but also desires for me to be in relationship with Him. As I read through Scriptures, I notice several times when God is so grieved over man’s unfaithfulness, sin and rebellion, that He states that it is His desire to destroy them. However, as wicked as man has been, God has never destroyed all of mankind. And as a matter of fact, on many occasions, because of the prayers of faithful men, God changed his plan.

No matter how many times God proved his faithfulness, no matter how many times He proved that His promises are true, men and women through Scripture and still today cry, keep silent and or laugh in disbelief because of our lack of faith. Sarah was such a person. God had told Abraham and then Sarah that through them many nations would be born and blessed. Sarah had a hard time believing that especially since she was 90 and Abraham at this time was 100 years old. She had been barren that long, how could she possibly give birth for the first time now?

The Bible teaches that, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2Peter 3:9) Now, I imagine that God was at least hurt at Sarah’s disbelief, but His was probably also angry. He had provided, led, and guided them without fail up to this point and still she laughed with disbelief. Yet God kept all of His promises, remained faithful and delivered. Right on time!

What a gracious, loving, forgiving God we serve that in spite of our doubt, He still blesses. In spite of our fear, He still delivers! In spite of our unfaithfulness, He remains faithful. Do you agree that we indeed have reason to praise him for his faithfulness?

Take a week and do so.

Jury Room

“We the jury, find the defendant…”

As I sit here in the Central Jury Room awaiting the judge to arrive, my mind is racing about our American judicial system and how it works. In just moments or possibly hours, I could be called in to take part in someone’s “Jury of their peers”, with all of my pre-judgments, faults, misconceptions, experience, good and bad.

During the process of “Voir Dire” is in place for the judge and attorneys to search for biases among the potential jurors that might prevent them from being fair and impartial. For example, if I woke up that morning and saw someone vandalizing my mailbox and I showed up at the court that morning and the case that I’d be sitting on involved someone accused of vandalism, then they probably would not choose me to be on that case because of my inability to be “fair and impartial”.

As I dwelt on this process, I began to think of standing before God one day: The moment when I stand before the Judge of the universe who has watched me every moment of my life and knows even the depth of my thoughts and motives. He has watch me “vandalize His mailbox” and more and I’m standing trial for “all of the above”. In reality, I’m doomed before I even come before Him. The evidence is beyond any doubt and is clear.

However, there is a person in the “court room”; actually, it’s the Son of the Judge standing by and when all of the evidence is presented, He stands and says to His Father, “I’ve already paid Mark’s debt, as He holds out His nail scarred hands.” At which point the Judge speaks the words, “Mark, you are free. All debts are paid and sins forgiven. Welcome home, my child.” The “tapes” from the security cameras are destroyed and all records and evidence of wrong-doing are annihilated, forever.

My friend, take a moment today and wrap you mind around this thought today and as you do allow your worship to be a response of gratitude to the One who has paid the debt that neither you nor I could ever pay. Glory to His Name: JESUS!

“…I'll forever wipe the slate clean of their sins.”
Hebrews 10:17 (The Message)