Mercy is defined as compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm. Some synonyms include leniency, clemency, compassion, grace, pity, charity, forgiveness, forbearance, quarter, humanity, soft-heartedness, kindness, sympathy, liberality, indulgence, tolerance, generosity, magnanimity, or beneficence. The Creator of this universe is also the Creator of me and you but our sin has separated all of us from Him. While He does not need us, we need Him - more than we even realize. We rely upon Him for every breath that we take. Without His mercy, we would be destined to experience the judgement and wrath of God that we deserve as individuals but He created a way to know Him personally. Due to our sinful nature, without God’s mercy, the beautiful sunsets would not be present without His pristine artistry in the skies, the love of God would not be able to be reflected in the relationships that we possess, and the opportunity to have a relationship with God would not be present. The mercy of God is deliverance from the judgment that every sinner rightfully deserves. (https://www.gotquestions.org /mercy-grace.html)
In the Old Testament, God’s chosen people, the Israelites, rejected God’s truth and worshipped false idols and enthroned their fleshly lusts time and time again. God could have allowed for the land to be destroyed completely, effortlessly wiping them off of the grid and starting over. But God always demonstrated His mercy through leaving a remnant of the country and protecting them. Isaiah 10:6 refers to Israel as "hypocritical nation"; although Israel had idolized themselves and objects, God still demonstrated His boundless mercy. The latter half of Isaiah 10 (verses 20 to 34), explains one of the many instances of how a remnant of Israel was saved. This includes escaping the house of Jacob, bringing them into the promised land, protecting them in battle, saving a remnant of the children of Israel, and always delivering them from the destruction that encompassed the Israelites.
Isaiah 11 also demonstrates God’s mercy expounded through another remnant by means of prophesying the promise of deliverance from the wrath and judgment that is to come through many generations:
Isaiah 11 also demonstrates God’s mercy expounded through another remnant by means of prophesying the promise of deliverance from the wrath and judgment that is to come through many generations:
“And there shall one forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots; And the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;”Isaiah 11:1-2
“And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious."Isaiah 11:10
Only the Creator who knew that human nature would become sinful would promise a seed that had the potential to make a way for any of His humanly creation to desire to know Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. The ‘stem’ or ‘root’ of Jesse refers to the lineage of King David and further down the lineage, most importantly leads to Jesus, the deliverer that was promised by God, demonstrating His mercy.
“...It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.”Romans 9:16
As a result of God’s mercy, with the right heart, each one of us can become "joint-heirs with Christ" and “that we may be also glorified together” (Romans 8:17) in eternity with the Lord.
Despite God knowing that His own people would reject Him, He still sent the world "His only begotten Son" (John 3:16). As 100% man and 100% God, as promised, to deliver His people out of eternal judgment and into God’s abundant mercy through King David’s family tree. Even though the Israelites rejected God’s only begotten Son, God’s promises of deliverance continue to hold true. (https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/mercy/)
Just like Israel, each of us are also born and considered ‘wicked’ by God, Psalm 58:3, refers to us as "wicked" and that as soon as we are born, we "go astray," "speaking lies," and are therefore "estranged from the womb" and separated from God. Our sinful nature always tempts us to think temporally as we live by what we can see and ignoring what we cannot see (Colossians 1:15-20). The "prince of the air" speaks lies to us which keeps us fixated on the here and now, rather than the eternal preeminence. While the "prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2) is real and working, the "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6) is even stronger, it is the free will that God gave us to choose which one we shall follow.
Just like Israel, each of us are also born and considered ‘wicked’ by God, Psalm 58:3, refers to us as "wicked" and that as soon as we are born, we "go astray," "speaking lies," and are therefore "estranged from the womb" and separated from God. Our sinful nature always tempts us to think temporally as we live by what we can see and ignoring what we cannot see (Colossians 1:15-20). The "prince of the air" speaks lies to us which keeps us fixated on the here and now, rather than the eternal preeminence. While the "prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2) is real and working, the "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6) is even stronger, it is the free will that God gave us to choose which one we shall follow.
“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time psat ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ…”Ephesians 2:1-5
Not only is God’s mercy evident in the Bible but it has also become very distinct in my life. When I look into my past, before Christ, it was clear that I solely lived for myself. Drifting around in the world, living each day moment by moment, being ruled by the self indulging sinful flesh of which I delighted immensely. There are countless instances that should have ended very badly. While I know that all sins have repercussions, I am so grateful for God’s mercy in my life because without it, I would still be living life for myself, on the eternal path of destruction:
“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.” 1 John 2:16-17
Instead of indulging in the lust of the flesh and eyes, I can now choose to follow Christ, striving to be spiritually minded in all areas of life, just as Christ lived, which is undoubtedly God’s perfect will for my life.
“For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:7-8
God’s mercy was perfected for all of mankind through the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He made a way for anyone that chooses to accept the gift of eternal life, resulting in being reunited with the "Father of mercies and the God of all comfort" (2 Corinthians 1:3).
After I repented and whole-heartedly trusted in Jesus Christ alone to cover my sins and secure my eternity, Romans 6:7 indicates that at that very moment, "I was freed from sin." God was willing to withhold or remove the eternal damnation and separation from God that I rightfully deserved.
1 John 5:4 states that at that time, August 25th, 2016, I was "born of God" and had "overcome the world" and in return, the gift of eternal life. With the precious blood of Jesus Christ, my transgressions were casted as far as the east is from the west; which are directional terms that are ongoing and infinite, a wonderful image of God’s mercy.
The Bible now comes to life by the Holy Spirit that undoubtedly resides within me since I trusted in God’s merciful plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. As I read, the contrasts are so overwhelming, the application is so real, and my fairly new spiritual eyes illuminate the Word of God.
How is it that God abhors sin yet extends His mercy to the hopeless and sinful creatures that chose to bask in darkness? The "Father of Mercies" always holds true to His promises and expresses the love for us that His adopted children should also desire to reciprocate towards others. Without God demonstrating love towards us, we would not know love (1 John 4:19).
After I repented and whole-heartedly trusted in Jesus Christ alone to cover my sins and secure my eternity, Romans 6:7 indicates that at that very moment, "I was freed from sin." God was willing to withhold or remove the eternal damnation and separation from God that I rightfully deserved.
1 John 5:4 states that at that time, August 25th, 2016, I was "born of God" and had "overcome the world" and in return, the gift of eternal life. With the precious blood of Jesus Christ, my transgressions were casted as far as the east is from the west; which are directional terms that are ongoing and infinite, a wonderful image of God’s mercy.
The Bible now comes to life by the Holy Spirit that undoubtedly resides within me since I trusted in God’s merciful plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. As I read, the contrasts are so overwhelming, the application is so real, and my fairly new spiritual eyes illuminate the Word of God.
How is it that God abhors sin yet extends His mercy to the hopeless and sinful creatures that chose to bask in darkness? The "Father of Mercies" always holds true to His promises and expresses the love for us that His adopted children should also desire to reciprocate towards others. Without God demonstrating love towards us, we would not know love (1 John 4:19).
“Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”James 5:11
It is God’s profound mercy that makes Him a living God of second chances, and for that, I am eternally grateful.
Crystal grew up in the world but God used her back injury to draw her to Himself through the miracle of salvation. She was born again in 2016 and since then has possessed the yearning desire to learn more about His miraculous truths in His perfect Word. Oftentimes, she journals from her hammock near a stream and hopes to serve the Lord in a sailboat one day! In order to choose the title of her column, Crystal combined her heart’s desire with Proverbs 31:14, “She [the virtuous woman] is like the merchant’s ships; she bringeth her food from afar.”