Obtaining Mercy

 

Psalm 103:19 "The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all."

 

Oh, my friend, why do we murmur?

He has everything under His control.

We have no need to worry or complain, when He has promised He does all for our good.

 

II Corinthians 2:14a "Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ…"

 

  "Faith is not a sense, nor sight, nor reason, but a taking God at His Word." ~Evans, Streams in the Desert

We can trust the One Who shed His blood to be a forgiving atonement for our sins, to lead our lives rightly and well, as we submit them to Him.

No doubts.  No complaining.  No second-guessing.

Just trust it all to Him.

 

 

 

Psalm 37:23-25 "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."

 

When we insist on directing our own life,

When we refuse the instruction of the Lord and of the Bible,

When we know the right way, but do not choose that way,

We are removing ourselves from the support of our God.

 

Why do we wonder, then, that our life is in a mess?

Why are we surprised that we lack direction?

Why do we grow angry at our circumstances ?

 

James 4:17 "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."

 

Romans 8:31-31 " What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"

 

If God gave His Son for us, why would He withhold any other good thing from us?

He only withholds His blessings when we live disobedient lives.

We are, quite often, our own worse enemy.

We must obey what God tells us to do from His Word!

God's richest blessing with follow our act of submission to His will.

 

On those days when I am angry, because I cannot do what I want…

In those moments of anxiety, because I do not know what lies ahead…

At the time my spirit fails, because I have not what I think I need…

During those nights when I am desperate, because the pain won't end…

I must cultivate a joyous gratitude to the Lord Jesus

• for all that I can do,
  
• for the blessings that lie behind me,
  
• for the gifts that I have been given,
  
• for the comfort that is promised me.

 

The attitude of gratitude – a deep, sincere acknowledgment of each and every blessing that God has bestowed on us – can rescue us from bitterness.

 

When we feel that all of life has turned on us, that everyone is against us and that every difficult thing has come to pass in our life, we must change our focus.

Stop looking at the problem.

Stop remembering the lack.

Turn our eyes to the Light…to our Saviour.

Praise Him for what He has already given, the miracles He's already bestowed, the peace He has poured out, the gifts we've received that we didn't deserve.

 As we focus on the Person we are thanking, His peace floods our soul.

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."

 

 Psalm .100:1-5 "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."

 

The bottom line is that God is good. 

He will only do what is best for us.  When we can trust Him with our whole heart, and be thankful for all that He has done, we will find the bitterness and anger fading away and a deep gratitude taking their place.

Praise Him today…no matter the circumstances.  Cultivate your "gratitude attitude"…you will feel better for it, I give you my word.

 

I often look at Scripture in amazment when It reminds me of all that Jesus did for us.

I won't pretend to understand it all, or to be able to explain everything Jesus went through here on earth.

However, I do know that Christ's being human, taking on flesh, was a decision made on purpose.

 

Hebrews 2:14a "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same…"

Hebrews 2:16 "For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham."

Now, as to the "why?" of that decision, I can read the facts, but it's hard for me to fathom it.

 

Hebrews 2:17-18 "Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted."

 

Did you catch that?

Jesus took on the form of a man for these reasons:

1. to be make like His brethren
2. that He might be a merciful and faith high priest
3. to make reconciliation for the sins of the people
4. to suffer being tempted
5. to succor them that are tempted  (tempt = to try; to prove; to put to trial for proof.)

Jesus allowed Himself to take on flesh, just like ours, so that He would know how it felt to go through trials here on earth, and so that He would be able to "succor" us. 

That means He wanted to be able "literally, to run to, or run to support; hence, to help or relieve when in difficulty, want or distress; to assist and deliver from suffering."

I can only barely begin to understand the depths of Jesus' love and compassion for me, not just for my soul, to bring it to salvation; but also for my life here, for my heart:

• to bring me support;
• to help me;
• to relieve me with I'm in difficulty, want or distress;
• to deliver me from suffering.
• 
  

What an incredible love!  I stand in awe and amazement.

Let your mind and heart dwell on His love for you as you go through your day today.

I believe you will find peace as you understand the incredible scope of His thoughts and love for you.

 

When Jesus healed the leper in Mark chapter 1, Scripture tells us that Jesus charged him,

Mark 1:44 "…See thou say nothing to any man…"

However the man did not obey Jesus' command.

Verse 45 tells us that the man

"…went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter…"

I am surprised that the man didn't obey Jesus; but I am even more impressed that he did such an amazing job getting out the word of Jesus' ability to heal.

After he told his story, Jesus could no longer walk into the city because the crowds were so large.  He had to stay out in the desert and people came to Him there.

You know, I was a spiritual leper…

And Jesus healed me too.

Do I "blaze" the news of my healing to all those around me?

Do I "publish it much" that Jesus has changed my life?

Did you know that this is the only time the word "blaze" is used in the Scripture?

There is a myriad of stories in the Bible that include people sharing a message.  In fact, many many stories come to mind.

However, no where else does it express it in this way.

 

BLAZE, n. [Eng.to blush.]  Publication; wide diffusion of report. In this sense, we observe the radical sense of dilatation (The act of expanding; expansion; a spreading or extending in all directions; the state of being expanded), as well as that of light.

 

This man could not be contained.  He must have told every person he met.  The news traveled fast and furiously – like a fire that was out of control.

Is that how we share the good news of the Gospel?

Is it like a burning fire that consumes our conversation with every one we meet?

Oh, Lord, let me blaze abroad the news that You are a healer and a Saviour. 

May my every conversation be a radical act of expanding the Good News of the Gospel!

 

"It is by no means enough to set out cheerfully with your God on any venture of faith. 

"Tear into smallest pieces any ininerary for the journey which your imagination may have drawn up. 

"Nothing will fall out as you expect. 

"Your guide will keep to no beaten path. 

"He will lead you by a way such as you never dreamed your eyes would look upon. 

"He knows no fear, and He expects you to fear nothing while He is with you." ~Streams in the Desert

 

Hebrews 11:8 "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went."

 

Our journey may not be as radical as the one that Abraham took; but if it is a journey of faith, it must go through places of which we have no knowledge.

Each journey begins with a single step…each voyage begins as our vessel leaves the shore.

It is a life of the Unknown, led by the All Knowing One.

We can trust Him. 

The Lord Jesus Christ laid down His life to be our Saviour. 

I suppose He can be trusted with our lives as well!

 

Matthew 8:23 "And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him."

Climb into the ship with Christ, push away from the shore…and experience the thrill of the life of faith!