Lord Had Mercy!

Mercy! It’s meaning? Forgiveness, gift, kindness, favor, blessing, evidence of divine favor, generosity, Godsend, grace, Ruth. Ruth? Well, we’ll get to that one later. However, the word mercy is not a word we often use. The times that we do hear the word “mercy” being used, are usually either in a movie where a defeated foe pleads for his life or as a student’s request of a teacher during a final exam. “I plead for mercy!” We also may have heard it used as a phrase in a Christian prayer or song: “Lord, have mercy on me!” Or maybe we’ve heard it used humorously when a guy sees a very attractive woman: “Laaawwwdddd, have mercy!”

Though this word may seem antiquated with regards to our 21st century word usage, we need to always be mindful of Paul’s words found in Romans: I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. (Romans 12:1, Amplified Bible)

Paul is pleading with us that in view of all of God’s mercies, that being (1) His forgiveness (2) His gifts to us (3) His kindness (4) His Favor (5) His blessings in our lives (6) The evidence of His Divine favor in our lives (7) His generosity (8) What & whom God sends into our lives (9) His Grace and finally (10), the special & close friends (the Ruths) He’s given us in this life…(we ought to) make a decisive dedication of our bodies to God as an act of intelligent worship.

Certainly our lives do not always go in the direction or manner we would desire. And while I’m sure things could always be better, when we look over our lives and think about these ten things that we have experienced at some point, let’s at least admit that the Lord had mercy on us.

Not only do I invite your thoughts, but I also invite you to take time to thank God today for His mercy.