In 1738 Charles Wesley wrote a beloved hymn entitled, And Can It Be? The third verse is a powerful exposition of the mercy of God. He left His Father’s throne above So free, so infinite His grace— Emptied Himself of all but love, And bled for Adam’s helpless race: ’Tis mercy all, immense and free, For O my God, it found out me! ’Tis mercy all, immense and free, For O my God, it found out me! In Luke 18 Jesus told the parable of a tax collector (a publican) who had lived such a rotten life, he considered himself unworthy of salvation. Desperate to know God he went to the Jerusalem Temple, smote his breast and cried out, “God be merciful to me a sinner.” At the same time, within ear-shot, a Pharisee pompously prayed, “God, I thank you that I am not like one of these publicans.” Jesus amazingly declared, “The tax collector went home to his house that day justified rather than the other.” How thankful we can be that the Almighty is a God of mercy; otherwise there would be no hope for any of us. If you are not a Christian, and you think that God could never forgive your sins because they are too horrendous or too revolting, think again. Jesus paid the penalty for the transgressions of the world when he died on the cross. Salvation is a free gift for anyone who desires to receive it. This is the Mercy of God. - See more at: rforh/uncategorized/the-mercy-of-god/#sthash.zWd8jehI.dpuf
Posted on: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 21:13:32 +0000