Tag Archives: mercy

For now, but then

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For now we suffer a little.  How shall our suffering compare to that of Christ?  Where is our righteousness that the nails should pierce so sharply, releasing Holy blood?

For now we live in confusion.  But how does that compare to, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  how should we say our questioning is just?

For now we look to die.  But how does our death compare to that which was foretold; Not a bone will be broken.  He will make no complaint as he is led to slaughter.  And, to rise into immortality in three days?

We worship the Son of God for he is a utterly unlike us.  His faithfulness to the Holy Father is without fault.   Our righteousness is by faith alone.  But the righteousness of the Son of Man has been from the beginning, unblemished.

For now we have nothing to offer that belongs to us.  Every good thing we have is given from above, full of Mercy and Grace.  How shall that compare to the sacrifice of our Lord?  He has given that which has belonged to him from eternity, and that for the sake of his enemy.

For now we see as through a glass darkly.  But then we will know fully and be perfected by the strength that is Jesus, the Christ of God and our Lord.

Let us free ourselves from all that is unrighteous.  For now, let us worship Him in all that is true that he may then receive what is rightfully his.  Let us renew an earnest heart, for the sake of our appearing before Him.

By His Holy promise we shall be perfected.  Even though, for now, we stumble about as blind men in a freshly plowed field.  We trust, and rightly so.  For Christ Jesus has earned the right to sit as King of Kings!

Remember

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Am I sober?  Am I willing to walk in the day undressed before Him?  Has He shown me what I am before Him, that I might remember?

 

Or am I as the man who owns a mirror?  I saw my reflection but I can’t remember what I look like.   My mind is so tiny.  I am so very small and fragile.

 

But He has not left me alone, without instruction.  “Remember”, He commands.  And my mind is quickened to look around.  Do I remember what I once knew?

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”  (Romans 12)

Here

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Night Sky 5

Night Sky 5 (Photo credit: dgrice)

Here, you dress me.

Here, I submit.

Here, I learn of my sins.

But

Here, I learn of Your mercy.

It was here that I found precious things;

The things that belong to You.

It was here that Your beauty shown in the darkness;

I came to understand lovely things.

Here, I find Grace.

Here, I find Mercy.

Here, my mind is become filled with the Hope that belongs to You.

And leaving Here, that hope becomes mine.

Thanks will roll from my lips forever

Because You were Here.

 

Thank You Lord, because You are Here.

By His Grace.  Amen.

How could you!

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A man caught in a small amount of trouble receives the accusation that if he were given the chance he would do far worse.  When asked to explain himself, the accuser goes on to describe some heinous crime.  And in the accusation he points at the poor man as if this man had already done these things.  From his own wicked imagination the accuser hopes to destroy another.

Sadly I am not just writing fiction here.  This happens all day long across the entire surface of the globe.  From their wicked imagination men blame others for faults they do not possess.  Then, as if that were not sufficient, they turn to look at the ugliness around them and blame God.

They themselves have caused this putrid stench.  Yet they have the gall to blame God.  But the Lord will remain blameless, for even as they accuse He holds out his hand that He may save them.

For now they do not know righteousness.  They do not know love.  They do not know kindness, mercy, or justice.  They do not know the living God we serve through Jesus The Son.   But this is why I have written this post.  I write this that some may come to their senses and learn from Him who is Love.

Hope!

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In your struggle against that sin of addiction, you wake to understand.

Though there was a time when you could not resist; that time “was”.

Look at the guilt you own now.  Notice how you realize that you have become free to choose.

The addiction is gone, while habit remains.

The Lord of life has heard your cries.  He has watched you flail about as you tried to put on righteousness.

And you know something you had only heard of before.  “If He has been merciful to release you from that, He is trustworthy to cause you to stand on that day”.

You are covered with stench but He cares to touch you.

You will find that covering yourself with faith becomes easier now.

All the while, He has been and will be your gloriously white garment forever.

Struggle.  Go ahead, it is necessary, it is appropriate, it is useful before the eyes of God.

Only take note that the work you could never do is being done.  He cares.  He is willing.  He is able.  His righteousness is that big.  And He does not lie.

By His Grace.

A Lesson Learned

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English: The portuguese Throne room in Ajuda P...

English: The portuguese Throne room in Ajuda Palace, Lisboa, Portugal. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In the town there was a scuffle.  A slight moment of time when chaos appeared then quickly vanished.

Two brothers were caught by three of the King’s guards.  They resisted a moment.  Then were subdued without mercy or waste of effort on the part of the mighty men sent to retrieve them.

Word was run to the King that these brothers had been captured and were being brought to his throne room.  “Bring them in just as they are”, declared the King.  Preparations were made to receive them.

The two were forced into the King’s presence and charges were read against them.  They had been hiding in this place and that for over a year.

The King sat up straight on his throne and asked the first, “What do you have to say to these charges?”  Then he put his body at rest and waited to listen to the words of the condemned man.

“All that was said against me is true, my Lord King.  And I have done far more things than those charges which your herald has spoken.  I have no means to clear myself from your mighty grasp.  And I have heard that all your judgments are swift and just.  So I appeal to the great mercy that has been spoken through all your land.  It is said you will have mercy on whom you desire to have mercy.  And you will condemn any you choose to condemn.  I can say no more without betraying my lack of intelligence Lord.”  This was the reply of the first of the brothers.

The King looked at the other brother without moving his head.  “What do you say for yourself?  Are these charges true which have been spoken against you?”

In reply, the other brother simply frowned at the King.  Looking at all assembled there, he simply spat on the

gleaming white polished marble floor of the King’s throne room.  He said no other word.

No trace of change came over the King’s face as he motioned to one of his strong warriors to come forward to him.  The warrior leaned toward the King and a whispering was had between the two.  After that the warrior took his place next to the two brothers.

The King drew a short breath.  His face still calm and completely in control of what was happening.  He finally spoke to the first brother.  “You have wisely called on my mercy.  And mercy you will receive.”

Then, again without moving his royal head, he looked toward the second brother.  “You have been found guilty as charged.”  This is all that came from the King’s mouth.  And with a gesture from his hand, the warrior raised his sword and swung with vicious speed.  So fast was the judgment employed that no one in the room had time to watch it happen.

The second brother’s head fell and bounced off his right foot.  It landed about 3 feet from his falling body.  As the body slammed the floor the first brother watched in horror at the finality of this judgment.  Emotion had not even had time to develop.  His eyes wide in every form of surprise a man can muster, he simply stood and stared at the pool of blood which came from that which had been his brother only a moment before.

While the first brother stood transfixed by horror and fright, the King arose.  He walked around the “mess” with regal steps.  He came to the first brother and put his hands on his shoulders to turn him from the sight of his dead brother.

And as tears developed in the King’s eyes he spoke these words to the man, “You have asked for mercy.  And it is my heart to have compassion on those who call to me for help, regardless their transgression to my laws.  I have set you free from every crime that has been read against you.”

With saying that, the King leaned forward with tears running down his cheeks.  He brought his face close to the brother and kissed him on the forehead.  “Go now and leave the things which have brought you here.  You are a free man.”

The brother was led gently from the throne room and ushered into the sunlight.  At the head of the steps he was released with smiling faces of those who had dragged he and his brother to this place moments ago.

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This is a parable which the Lord gave me this morning.  It’s meaning is clear.  But let us consider that the swiftness of promise is equal from the Lord.  Death is sure to the enemies of God.  And surely mercy is granted to those who humble themselves to accept their sentence.  May the Lord Jesus receive praise for His Glorious deliverance of this story.  It is He whom we praise with all our soul.  And it is He who will remain the King of Kings.

Amen.