June 8, 2012

A wondering---This spring there have been a couple of situations at school which have resolved themselves in such a way that it is apparent that God's hand was a work.  Now here is my wonderment. . .Were these the direct result of prayer or just the sequence of events planned in eternity past and unfolded regardless of prayer?  I know these types of answers will not be known this side of heaven (and maybe not even then), but it still gives me cause for pause.

Speaking of heaven, many of us have said, "When I get to heaven I want to ask God. . ." or "We'll know that when we get to heaven."  A thought just occurred to me.  When we get to heaven I wonder if we will be so caught up in praising God and rejoicing in His presence, all those creation, predestination, etc. questions will be so irrelevant as to not even cross our minds.

Today's verse
Matthew 18:33  "Shouldn't you have had compassion on your follow servant just as I had compassion on  you?"


Mercy, a concept that is so contradictory to what the world teaches.  Punishment, retribution, pay-back--that is how the world operates.  Blackaby reminds us of the unparalleled mercy God shows each of us on both a daily and, for believers, an eternal basis.

Mercy is God's withholding punishment for our sins.  In the past I have thought of mercy more in the eternal sense.  "God will withhold eternal punishment for my sin as a result of His mercy."  While this is gloriously and marvelously true, Blackaby points out that God's mercy is in effect each time we sin.  Whether is is a lustful thought, a hateful word or an ignored directive from Him, God's mercy withholds deserved consequences on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis.  If God can show mercy for the countless sin I have committed, surely I can show mercy to those who offend me.