Bible Reading: Psalm 85-87; Romans 9.
Memory Verse: “Shew us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation.” Psalm 85:7 (KJV).
God has a prerogative of mercy. He does as He pleases. He stated this clearly in Romans 9:15-16 (KJV), “For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. [16] So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” That, not withstanding, God is so merciful and He showed that when He sent His only son to die for the whole world while we were yet sinners! The mercy of God is shown to the world in seven dimensions. First is His person. This is stated in Psalm 103:8 (KJV), “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.” He has also provided mercy for us. By his mercy, He forgives all iniquities, heals all your diseases ( Psalm 103:3).
His mercy is also patient. He is slow to anger and according to Psalm 103:9 (KJV), “He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever!” And even when He punishes, He shows mercy. He does not give commensurate punishment for transgressions before His mercy takes over. Psalm 103:10 (KJV) says, “He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.”
His pardon of our iniquities and transgressions also reflect the abundance of his mercies. In 1 John 1:9 (KJV)the Bible says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
The sixth “P” of his mercies dimension is Pity. Psalm 103:13-14 KJV says “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. [14] For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” Lastly, God is a master planner even in His mercy. His mercy endures forever (Psalm 138:8)
But how should we respond to the various dimensions of mercy? We should continually praise God at all times by singing of His mercies ( Psalm 80:1-2), present our bodies as a living sacrifice by living a life that is pleasing to Him always and finally praying to Him without ceasing as stated in Psalm 85:7 (KJV), “Shew us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation.”
Prayer Point: Father, please satisfy us early with your mercy that we may rejoice and be glad all our days in Jesus name.
Bro. Bro. Biodun Oyapero