Grace and mercy. We use the terms all the time to reflect God's nature and how we should be: graceful and merciful. But what do these words mean? From a Biblical perspective, what are grace and mercy, respectively?
Sidenote: I tend to get them backwards often. In fact as I was writing in my journal this morning I defined them in exactly the opposite way. Then I corrected after thinking about it.
Mercy is defined as not getting something bad that we really should, if Justice were to prevail.
Grace is defined as getting something good that we don't deserve and have not earned.
God extends Grace to us in that we do not deserve, nor have we earned, what we are to receive... the full inheritance of God, equal to that of Jesus, His only begotten son. Woah. And because this is true, we are to extend Grace to others, giving when others have done nothing for us, nor will they likely.
God extends Mercy to us as we continue to sin, choosing not to extend righteous justice when He has full rights and reason to do so.
Think of the thief on the cross, or the man on death row who accepts Jesus into his heart just before his execution, or a lifelong atheist who wakes to the truth... All find grace and mercy... immediately.
Unfair? Well, that's just it. It isn't fair. That's Grace and Mercy for you. It's God's to give... and He did, through sending His only begotten son to pay for the sins that were primarily against Him!
What? Yeah. Wow.
God, You are love, and Jesus is the greatest representation of that. The cross is the greatest proof of that. You are wonderful, and I love You and trust You fully. Thank you for your infinite grace and mercy.
In Jesus name. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment