In God’s perfect plan, not one human-being would experience Hell and eternal death. But He’s also not sitting up in heaven with a big sledge hammer, relishing the thought of punishing sinners. Quite the opposite, for in II Peter 3:9 it says, “The Lord is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” Our Lord is graciously waiting for all to turn to Him…but we have to make the first move…not only admitting our sin, but accepting responsibility and confessing… we need You, Lord.
Tag: grace and mercy
Isaiah 33:2 ” O Lord, be gracious to us; we long for You. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.”
Lord, You are the wind in my sail, the power and might behind my every move. I am the weak, appealing for mercy from the strong. I will patiently wait and hope for You, even when I can not clearly see Your hand working. My trust will be in You and You alone… for You are my strength and my song, and I will continue to praise Your name forever. Amen
I Corinthians 3:11 ” For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
Anchor us O Lord. We are flailing and thrashing alone in the ocean of life…about to go down for the last time. Rescue us Lord and support us with You love and mercy. Let us be grounded by Your Word and have security in Your promises. For the only firm foundation we have is a Christ-shaped one that the Church can be built on. Anchor us O Lord.
Ephesians 2:8-9 ” For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”
It is simply by God’s unearned and unmerited favor that we have the chance to be saved. It’s by His absolute free expression of His loving kindness towards us that we may come into a right relationship with Him through His Son Jesus Christ. This divine gift…the gift of eternal life is not to be taken lightly, or with a casualness that doesn’t fully take into account the terrible price Jesus Christ paid for our freedom. The gift of salvation can not be bought with a price…for what Jesus did for mankind was priceless.
Psalm 42:8 ” By day the Lord directs His love, at night His song is with me – a prayer to the God of my life.”
God oversees His kindness and mercy towards us daily. At night when the worries of the day keep us awake, remember that a hymn or prayer of praise and thankfulness to the Lord will comfort and give you rest. In that way, love flows to and from us continually.
Isaiah 54:10 ” ‘Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor My covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord , Who has compassion on you.”
With out warning, stressful and frightening things happen. We’re pushed along by the tidal wave of raw emotions…trying simply to survive the moment. But this verse wants us to know that regardless of the circumstances, God is still there…His kindness, and mercy will never abandon us.
Psalm 73: 21-22 ” When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You.”
The Psalmist realized that anguish and despair changes us…that bitter suffering and grief makes us numb, irrational, and at times irresponsible for word or deed…even when addressing God. The Psalmist freely admitted that he was far from the person he usually was. And we, like the Lord, must remember then that grief effects everyone and that the same grace and mercy He extends, we must also.
Psalm 30:5 ” For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”
Our frail human bodies are not able to endure more than just an instant of God’s wrath…though it may feel like an eternity when we’re in the middle of His fray, it is but a moment. His anger may dissolve us for a night…but will not be held against us as a grudge in the morning. His anger will momentarily suspend our life as we know it… but only to turn and shower us with His tremendous grace and mercy at dawnbreak. The Lord God is good…His love endures forever.
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