SUPERNATURAL SUPPLY OF MERCY

“But God, who is RICH in MERCY, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ…” – Ephesians 2: 4-5a

GOD is rich in the SUPERNATURAL SUPPLY of MERCY (Eph.2:4-5a). There is never a shortage of Mercy with Him. Mercy is the tangible, active and dynamic expression or demonstration of divine Love; the outworking of God’s divine love; God’s kindness or benevolence stretched towards humankind to meet our needs. God is Love (1Jh.4:7-8). And in the abundance of His love, He expresses Himself as “Father of mercies”: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the FATHER of MERCIES and God of all comfort” (2Cor.1:3). Mercy is an infinite, inexhaustible attribute and capability within the divine nature, which disposes God to be actively compassionate.

“The LORD is gracious and MERCIFUL; slow to anger and great in lovingkindness” (Psa.145:8). God is extremely rich in Mercy: “who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1Pet.1:3). Indeed, the earth is full of His mercy. Yet, in the midst of the world’s trying times, many fail to recognize God’s Mercy! For us who do, His Mercy has drawn us who were “aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise” into closer in fellowship “by the blood of Christ” (vv.12-13). Mercy is not receiving what we do deserve. According to our fall from grace, we deserved to go to hell, but by Mercy we shall never end up there.

God’s Mercy is not a scarce resource; hence we can personally proclaim: “Surely, goodness and MERCY shall follow me all the days of my life…” (Psa.23:6). When you belong to Him, the Lord will look on you with Mercy, withhold due punishment, and shower you with goodness. God saved and sustains us “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy…t” (Tit.3:5a). Rahab’s story in Joshua 6 testifies to the truth that Mercy triumphs over Sin and Judgement! She was a harlot, but chose to be useful to the kingdom of God and became a recipient of Mercy. As she submitted to God’s purpose, all of her household tasted of God’s Mercy. She was saved and ended up in the genealogy of the Saviour. A harlot stepped into an amazing divine destiny!

Mercy is not a momentary mood with God, but His perpetual disposition and lifestyle (Psa.23:6). David valued God’s Mercy. He said to Gad: “Please let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man” (2Sam.24:14b). God ensures that Mercy follows and defends us all through life. He also enriches us with Mercy to such a degree that we become Vessels of Mercy: “And that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of MERCY, which He had afore prepared unto glory” (Rom.9:23). His vessels of Mercy become vehicles of His Glory! Hence, He invites us to the throne of grace, “that we may obtain MERCY and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb.4:16b).

God’s Covenant of Mercy is absolutely dependable: “My MERCY I will keep for him forever, and My covenant shall stand firm with him” (Psa.89:28). “And His Mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation” (Lk.1:50). His Mercy will always speak and work for His Covenant children.

Mercy delivers us from trouble and lifts us up from the gates of death (Psa.9:3).

Mercy silences the devil and his agents who query whether God will show us any good (Psa.4:1-6). Satan cannot argue against mercy! It is a divine defence: “he who trusts in the LORD, MERCY shall surround him” (Psa.32:10b). 

Mercy ensures that we are not “messed up” in life. We need the mercy-link in this world of challenges. Mercy preserves us in a world full of misery: “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not” (Lam.3:22). It takes grace to run life’s race and mercy to win life’s battles (Eccl.9:11-12).