May the mumbling commence!
Grace is getting good things that we do not deserve. That is part of love that comes from God. There is another side to that coin. Mercy is not getting the bad things that we deserve. Mercy is as much a part of God’s love as grace. Read from Ephesians chapter two (RSV):
But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God – not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Verses 4-10)
The mercy of God’s love cancels out the death that sin begets. Mercy makes us alive in Christ – a life that is both qualitatively and quantitatively better than we have ever known.
The mercy of God’s love raises us up with Christ to heavenly places. This action makes the grace of God evident to everyone around us.
With the mercy of God’s love, there is no question: we are safe in Christ Jesus. We are saved from our trespasses… our sins. What a gift!
Let’s celebrate this gift of mercy through God’s love. Let’s discover the other gifts that God’s Spirit has given us individually and corporately so that we may realize the wonderful workmanship and craftsmanship that God has shown in our very beings.
What is our response to this mercy of God’s love? Our response is to do the good works that God has prepared for us to do. Yes, each of us was created in Jesus for good works.
May our good works help to cushion people from the bad things that they may deserve. May our good works amplify the mercy of God’s love for all to see and to feel and to hear and to taste.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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