Feb 14 2022

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, (by grace ye are saved).

We need mercy, although it may not be something we often think about. We're aware that we need forgiveness and grace, but why do we need mercy?

Maybe we can justify a criminal's need for mercy, but clearly, we haven't done anything as horrible as criminals have. Right? They commit crimes and deserve to be punished for what they've done, but we haven't done anything to merit punishment. Right?

Wrong.

Every sin we've ever committed deserves punishment. But fortunately for us, God's great mercy means that we don't have to suffer the eternal consequences. If we were to view our sin in the light of God's holiness, we would be keenly aware of how unworthy we are. But in the midst of our sinfulness, God reached down to us and granted us mercy.

This afternoon's verse says that "even when we were dead in our sins" we received grace through Christ. When we see others at their lowest point, do we extend that same type of grace to them?

Even when we demonstrate mercy to others, we are incapable of taking the next step that Paul mentions in Ephesians 2:4-5. We are made alive through Christ. We have no power within us that can bring us life. Only through His death and resurrection have we been offered eternal life that removes the curse of sin from us.

Now, though we were dead in our sin, we have been made alive through Christ. What an amazing gift!

God, how can I thank you for the gift of mercy you have extended to me? You saved me and offered me eternal life when I was unworthy. I will never be able to repay the debt that Jesus paid. I am alive in you and have everything I need to live for you. Thank you. In Jesus' name, amen.

Feb 13 2022

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. :

In this afternoon's verse in Psalms, King David asks where he can go from God's spirit. He didn't ask the question because he was trying to run away from God. Rather, he was trying to grasp the extent of what God's presence meant in his life.

God is omnipresent. He's with us everywhere we go. He is in the past, present, and future. There is nowhere we can go that God isn't already there. How does this knowledge affect our lives?

Throughout the Bible, we read about people who tried to move away from God's presence. When Adam and Eve sinned, they tried to hide from God. Jonah attempted to flee rather than obey God. But their efforts were to no avail.

God is always present. He never leaves us. The assurance of His presence should bring us comfort, not dread or despair. Because He is still with us, He knows everything about us. There's nothing that is hidden from Him. Our sins and failures are exposed before Him, and yet He loves us unconditionally.

Only a loving God would care enough to be present in every moment we live. He knows what we are facing. As we turn our hearts and lives over to Him, we can be assured that we'll never be alone.

Dear Lord, there are times when I feel lonely. It brings me such comfort to know that despite how I think, I am never alone. You are with me. I also realize that you see the weakest parts of me. I often fail and suffer the consequences of my own actions. But still, you shower me with your grace and love. I'm thankful that you will never leave me nor forsake me. In Jesus' name, amen.


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