09/09/2020
God is merciful and full of grace; we say this repetitively, but do we say it because we believe it to be true, or because as sinners we desperately need to believe He is? We depend on God’s mercy every day, and since we can’t save ourselves, we need His grace. Yet, simply believing these things doesn’t make them so, but as we witness His behavior, and read His Word, we come to know it is indeed the truth.
“For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.”
Psalm 86:5 ESV
Have you ever wanted someone to be your friend so much that you convinced yourself that they were? I once knew a man that I admired in many ways, and I wanted to be friends with him. I called him my friend, and would Help him with his work, and do things for him to reinforce what I thought of as our friendship, but it seemed the more I did, the more he expected. Yet whenever I needed help he always had an excuse for why he couldn’t help me in return
“A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
Proverbs 18:24 ESV
Then one day I overheard him talking laughingly about me, and how I was like his servant. You see, I wanted to be friends with this man so much that I had convinced myself that he actually felt the same way about me... but he didn’t, and that reality cut me like a knife. I couldn’t make this man my friend just by convincing myself that it was so. No, true friends are like treasure, they are there when you need them most, and remain true to you despite the circumstances.
God is truly as we believe Him to be, and although we can’t make Him merciful and full of grace simply by saying He is, we don’t have to, because that is His true nature, and He demonstrates how much He cares for us each day. He is faithful in our relationship with Him, and forgives us for transgressions that earthly friends wouldn’t. He is merciful in this way, and His grace is poured over us without our earning it; even when we are unworthy.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV
Jesus Christ wants to be our friend, and He tells us this quite directly, but like the story about the man I wanted so desperately to be my friend, He is waiting for us to love and befriend Him in return. He believes in us, and wants us as friends, but until we give ourselves to Him then that belief is one sided, and our friendship is not really what it should be... it is hollow. He confides in us concerning His Father, but how do we treat Him in return? Do we act like His friend when we are alone with Him, only to deny Him to the world (Peter)? Do we believe in Him when He is with us, but need proof of who He is when we see Him risen (Thomas)? Or do we chant “Hosanna“ at the city gates only to yell “Crucify Him!”
before Pilot (the crowd)?
“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”
John 15:15 ESV
Even when we deny Him, doubt Him, and turn on Him, Jesus stands ready with a jar of grace, and a ladle of forgiveness. This is a friend, and the image of the Father. As for me, and the man I wanted to be my friend, he never said he was sorry, or made any effort to reconcile our friendship. Had he done so we would be friends today... like Jesus is with Peter, who He built His Church upon, Thomas who He forgave and taught a lesson on faith through, and the crowd who He asked God to forgive while dying on the cross.
“And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.”
Luke 23:34 ESV
Just saying God is merciful and full of grace doesn’t make Him so, but His actions tell us that He is. He loved us, and a world that was full of sin, so much so that He gave His Son Jesus to die, and be resurrected so that we might be saved. He clothed Adam and Eve despite the fact that they had just sinned against Him. He spared Noah and his family From the flood waters, Lot from certain death on Sodom, Jonah from the belly of the whale, forgave David for sleeping with Bathsheba, and killing her husband Uriah, Paul for relentlessly persecuting Christians, and He forgives you and me through His mercy and grace by the blood of Jesus. The evidence for God’s mercy and grace mounts, and testifies boldly of His character. This makes it so.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the mercy and grace that is such a part of you, and that you pour like a never ending fountain over us. Thank you for your Son Jesus who was perfect, and yet made sin so that we might be redeemed. Thank you Holy Father for the countless acts of mercy you demonstrate each day, and the urn of grace, which is a Jesus, from which you ladle it over us. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who loves us, and treats us with such amazing mercy and grace. Praised be your name for every moment of friendship we have with Jesus, and bless us too as your friends just as Abraham was your friend. You are worthy of all praise, and glory Lord, and in you who is our foundation, we rest assured of our life everlasting. All glory is yours Heavenly Father, and we pray that everything we do will bring glory to your name. Let your grace pour over us, and as we approach you asking forgiveness for our sins, have mercy, and forgive us by the blood of Christ so that we might be lifted to heavenly places, and seated at your table for all eternity... singing, and praising your name as friends.
“But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend;”
Isaiah 41:8 ESV
Rich Forbes