Sunday Morning, August 3, 2008, 

Mercy is….not getting what we deserve.
Mercy is not ….getting what we deserve.

This morning, Bro. Joe brought a lesson about mercy. He showed how one of God’s primary characteristic is mercy, not judgment.  His mercy endureth forever…There is not a time when we can exhaust God’s mercy as long as we meet the conditions of repentance.  He is always there to take a wayward, repentant prodigal back, just like in the story.  Many scriptures in the Bible refer to God’s mercy.  Surely a God of love (1 John 4:16) will also be full of mercy towards the objects of His love – His creation. 

Jesus came to this earth to demonstrate the mercifulness of God to the world.  Over and over again we find Him granting His favor to those who didn’t deserve it.  To the Canaanite woman, the 2 blind men, the woman caught in adultery, Legion, and the list goes on. 

God is longsuffering, patient, and merciful…to ALL generations.  Any “Gospel” that portrays Him as anything different – quick to change His mind; not very longsuffering or patient; cruel; a “hurry” God (hurry up and make a decision or else) – is NOT the God of the Bible, but some lower, baser, pagan idea of a god. 

Thank God He granted mercy to us.  We didn’t get what we deserved.  And He will continue to do so to all mankind…from everlasting to everlasting.