Post by Rob W. Case on Nov 27, 2014 0:35:01 GMT -6
What do you think of when you hear the words Grace and mercy? It is common in this day and age to think of the concept of grace as something of a prayer someone might say before they eat a meal, and mercy, as something of an act of restraint in wreaking loss, devastation, or retribution towards someone who committed an act against another person, or perhaps the inability to pay a debt owed to a certain person within a particular time frame. Without God’s grace and mercy, we could never truly experience a heart of thankfulness if we never experienced the grace and mercy of God by His sending His son to this earth to save us from what we initially, due to the fallen, self absorbed condition of our hearts, deserve.
The concepts of grace and mercy are somewhat difficult to comprehend in the Western world due largely to our living amidst its influence and taking it for granted. But when you really think about it, the very idea of individual liberty, as well as the concepts of joy, peace, patience, kindness, and self-control could not be experienced if it weren’t but for the love of God through Jesus Christ and the grace and mercy that ensued as a result. Just think of how the earth lived before Christ’s ministry rose during the reign of Tiberius Ceasar in Rome. That said, what Jesus said and did were revolutionary in nature, and aroused a hope within the soul that would intensify at its greatest degree, especially after His resurrection, which emboldened people to follow Him even if it meant defying their Roman rulers.
In that, God’s grace and mercy introduced the world to an age of unconditional love, intervention, restoration, strength, and provided unconventional wisdom far superior to anything that could be conceived from the hearts and minds of mere men. God’s grace and mercy has become a “buffer” if you will, to wrath, destruction, ruin, and loss in various forms, on a scale both small and large.
And so, what is grace and mercy? Well, grace is favor towards someone who doesn’t deserve it. That said, an act of grace is aiding and helping someone who doesn’t deserve to be helped. Mercy is predominantly a form of restraint due to a tenderness of heart that moves the will of a person to pass over an offense and treat a perpetrator of an offense better than what that person deserves. That said, mercy is a form of forgiveness towards someone whose trespasses are leveled against another person. For example, a criminal receives a sentence due to a crime, but grace and mercy allows for a second chance. And while a person who has committed an offense, is about to receive a just punishment due to what he has done will appreciate it if he is broken and humbled by these concepts being shown to him. If he is broken and humbled by the experience of both grace and mercy being shown to him, than it will enable a spirit of repentance in that love and loyalty will go towards the bearer of it. If a person isn’t broken or humbled by the acts of grace and mercy being shown in his favor, and is defiant regardless of his access to a second chance, than he is unrepentant, and his pride will lead him to ruin, and his soul to judgment.
Thankfulness Due to Grace and Mercy:
Ephesians 2:1-5
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
Because of sin, we are by nature, objects of wrath, yet due to the mercy of God through Jesus Christ, we are forgiven of our trespasses against Him, and are given a second chance. And while we are given a second chance, in his grace we are able to receive companionship, fellowship, restoration of soul, and a joy and peace that can settle the sporadic nature of our mind, will, and emotions that goes every which way, but firm, grounded, constructive, and productive without him.
And so, as Thanksgiving is a holiday to be thankful for what we have, what calamities we’ve been spared from, or perhaps some form of punishment in some way or another due to God’s grace and mercy. And if it wasn’t for God’s deep and inexplicable degree of love for us, we could never experience grace and mercy, for a heart of thankfulness is really deep appreciation and a humble expression of gratitude as a result of that love.
On a Personal Note:
To experience Grace and Mercy on a much deeper and personal aspect, I would like to invite you to a special podcast edition of “Making Sense with Rob Case,” where my co-producer, educator, and friend Tom Pazdan and I will discuss not only the concepts of grace and mercy, but how it has been experienced by us in a deep and profound way, and how it can be experienced in your daily life as well.
To access the podcast please click HERE.
The concepts of grace and mercy are somewhat difficult to comprehend in the Western world due largely to our living amidst its influence and taking it for granted. But when you really think about it, the very idea of individual liberty, as well as the concepts of joy, peace, patience, kindness, and self-control could not be experienced if it weren’t but for the love of God through Jesus Christ and the grace and mercy that ensued as a result. Just think of how the earth lived before Christ’s ministry rose during the reign of Tiberius Ceasar in Rome. That said, what Jesus said and did were revolutionary in nature, and aroused a hope within the soul that would intensify at its greatest degree, especially after His resurrection, which emboldened people to follow Him even if it meant defying their Roman rulers.
In that, God’s grace and mercy introduced the world to an age of unconditional love, intervention, restoration, strength, and provided unconventional wisdom far superior to anything that could be conceived from the hearts and minds of mere men. God’s grace and mercy has become a “buffer” if you will, to wrath, destruction, ruin, and loss in various forms, on a scale both small and large.
And so, what is grace and mercy? Well, grace is favor towards someone who doesn’t deserve it. That said, an act of grace is aiding and helping someone who doesn’t deserve to be helped. Mercy is predominantly a form of restraint due to a tenderness of heart that moves the will of a person to pass over an offense and treat a perpetrator of an offense better than what that person deserves. That said, mercy is a form of forgiveness towards someone whose trespasses are leveled against another person. For example, a criminal receives a sentence due to a crime, but grace and mercy allows for a second chance. And while a person who has committed an offense, is about to receive a just punishment due to what he has done will appreciate it if he is broken and humbled by these concepts being shown to him. If he is broken and humbled by the experience of both grace and mercy being shown to him, than it will enable a spirit of repentance in that love and loyalty will go towards the bearer of it. If a person isn’t broken or humbled by the acts of grace and mercy being shown in his favor, and is defiant regardless of his access to a second chance, than he is unrepentant, and his pride will lead him to ruin, and his soul to judgment.
Thankfulness Due to Grace and Mercy:
Ephesians 2:1-5
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
Because of sin, we are by nature, objects of wrath, yet due to the mercy of God through Jesus Christ, we are forgiven of our trespasses against Him, and are given a second chance. And while we are given a second chance, in his grace we are able to receive companionship, fellowship, restoration of soul, and a joy and peace that can settle the sporadic nature of our mind, will, and emotions that goes every which way, but firm, grounded, constructive, and productive without him.
And so, as Thanksgiving is a holiday to be thankful for what we have, what calamities we’ve been spared from, or perhaps some form of punishment in some way or another due to God’s grace and mercy. And if it wasn’t for God’s deep and inexplicable degree of love for us, we could never experience grace and mercy, for a heart of thankfulness is really deep appreciation and a humble expression of gratitude as a result of that love.
On a Personal Note:
To experience Grace and Mercy on a much deeper and personal aspect, I would like to invite you to a special podcast edition of “Making Sense with Rob Case,” where my co-producer, educator, and friend Tom Pazdan and I will discuss not only the concepts of grace and mercy, but how it has been experienced by us in a deep and profound way, and how it can be experienced in your daily life as well.
To access the podcast please click HERE.