I woke up this morning literally in a state of unrest. I
felt hot and cold at the same time. The dream I had just woken from was
literally just a mental struggle between myself and somebody so my brain
was annoyed and I had a headache. Then I
started to think about every little thing that is getting on my nerves,
seriously, EVERY SINGLE THING, and I started making plans on how I was going to
address all of them. The small part of me that was still in my right mind started to
get concerned for the things that I was planning to say and the actions I was
about to take, but then I remembered what week it was…. Oh.
Immediately, I began to thank Jesus because His grace and
mercy covers me every day, all the time, but especially when I’m bent out of
shape by my biology. Then I began to
sing in my head a song that starts with “I’m so glad you died for me….” So that
is the video I’ll be sharing today.
Without further ado, let’s get to Grace and Mercy. I've
often heard it preached that Grace is what covers us in general because we sin
just by breathing, but that Mercy covers our specific acts of sin. That’s
always been a little hard to decipher for me… The dictionary says that Grace is
a manifestation of favor, especially by a superior and that Mercy is compassionate or kindly forbearance shown
toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one’s power. Here is what the
Word says about grace and mercy.
There are so many verses about grace. It was easy to find
several that speak to the situation…
Grace comes from Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice
Romans 5:17
“For if, by the
trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will
those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness
reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.”
More Sin = More Grace
Romans 5:20b-21
“But where sin
increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death,
so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Grace covers everything, but that does not give me
permission to cuss someone out today. I have to continue to act right!
Romans 6:20
“Therefore do not let
sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer
the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer
yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer
the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall
not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.”
Grace includes Provision
2 Corinthians 9:8
“And God is able to
make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all
that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
Grace Teaches Me
Titus 2:11-14
“For the grace of God
that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to
ungodliness and worldly passions , and to live self controlled, upright and
godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious
appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to
redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his
very own, eager to do what is good.”
Mercy though? Not as much about God being merciful towards us, as there seems to be about human beings being merciful towards one another. There were still a couple I could pull out, though.
Mercy Protects Me from Judgment if I have been Merciful
James 2:12-13
“Speak and act as those
who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment
without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs
over judgment!”
If you read my post yesterday, you see that I posted Psalm
25 and shared very briefly about the decisions I feel are coming up in my life
soon. I said I was going to read it everyday all week because it not only
applies to asking God for help, but also addresses my issue with pride and
being humble AND it addresses some ancillary things going on around me in these
past couple of weeks…. And what do you
know, Mercy is included in the passage. Go ‘head God! You are amazing!
Psalm 25:1-15
“To you, O lOrd, I
lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor
let my enemies triumph over me. No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to
shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse. Show
me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, O
Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from old. Remember not the sins
of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you
are good, O Lord. {Cracking up at David. God, remember your mercy that you’ve
been giving us for thousands of years, but forget that thing that I did when I was younger, you know like yesterday LOL!} Good and upright is the
Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what
is right and teaches them his way. All the ways of the Lord are loving and
faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant. For the sake of your
name, O Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great. Who, then, is the man
that fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him. He will
spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land. The
Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. My
eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.”
So, are grace and mercy synonymous? *shrug* I have no clue! Will I snap out on someone today? Hmm, I hope not! I'm just glad and grateful that God's grace and mercy, and love, go with me wherever I go. Amen!
Jesus by Shekinah Glory Ministry
And then of course I have to do….
Grace by T.D. Jakes
And finally,
God's Mercy by Rev. Ernest Davis Jr's Wilmington Chester Mass Choir
Pray for Me,
-BlueLady
