God's Mercy Is Superabundant

God gives life to this earth. It is through His mercy that He provides us with good. It is through His mercy that He provides us with shelter. In sickness or health, every breath that we take is from the abundant mercy of God. Every breath we take is from the abundant mercy of God. Every breather we take is because of God.

This is a difficult but important perspective to have. God is better to us than we realize. Our sins, even the smallest ones, should be reproved immediately. Yet God lets us live our lives and even blesses us. Acts 14:17 states, "Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy." God can do this because He is merciful.

Mercy is God's abundant testimony to us. Thomas Watson describes, God's mercy is superabundant. The Lord has treasures of mercy in store... The vial of God's wrath, only drops- but the fountain of His mercy, runs....His mercy is over-flowing and ever-flowing. His mercy is infinite -without bounds, and without end."

Whatever our situations, we rest firmly in the grace of the cross. We can get lost in the difficulties of our circumstances, and in doing so become overcome with our own private tragedies. But God calls us to stop looking at ourselves and to fix our eyes on Him. Whether we live on this earth for ten years or one hundred, our time on earth is short. Focusing on ourselves never solves any problems. Focus instead on God, and live for the life to come.

Living Life

Love God's Law

How many of us love reading God's Word? Reading the Bible is usually something that we have to do. It is a task that we must cross off our list before we can continue with the rest of our day. More often than not, the Bible is a burden to us rather than a blessing.

Yet it is the Bible that informs us of God's will for our lives. It is because of the Bible, and all the books that are contained in it, that we know the character of God. It is through this Book that we understand what sin is and how to deal with it.

As we read through the Bible, we fall more in love with God and realize just how precious His Law is. God's Law is more than just Him telling us what we can and cannot do. God's Law is more than just Him telling us what we an and cannot do. God's Law holds a grander purpose in His divine story. John Piper writes,"It's plain that we do not die to the law in every conceivable way. We rejoice in the law in some ways (Rom. 7:22), and in the law we see a witness to the ['righteousness...given through faith in Jesus Christ' (Rom. 3:22)], and we establish the law through faith in Christ (Rom. 3:31); the goal of the law is Christ."

It is through the Law, and the judgment that it brings that we see a clearer picture of the mercy of Jesus Christ. God's Law reveals how truly sinful we are. It is through the Law that we really see how pathetic, imperfect, and in need of grace we are. And then Jesus comes and lavishes us with mercy. Nothing demonstrates God's mercy better than His Law.

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God's Mercy Unveils Eternity

This world is full of incredible of beauty and natural wonders. Mount Everest, Victoria Falls, the Grand Canyon, the Great Barrier Reef, the Aurora Borealis, the Paricutin Volano, and the Harbor of Rio de Janerio are just some examples of incredible wonders God has created here on earth.

This world, however, and all that is in it will pass away. From its natural wonders to its materials of value, everything pales in comparison to the majesty that will be revealed in the new world to come. Psalm 119:89-96 praises God for His Word, His faithfulness, and the steadfastness of the world He created.

Thomas Boston writes, "The man is instructed in the knowledge of the vanity of the WORLD. Psalm 119:96, 'I have seen an end of all perfection.' Regenerating grace elevates the soul...Grace brings a man into a new world: where this earthly world is reputed but a stage of vanity, a howling wilderness, a valley of tears."

We know the earth has not always existed, and we know that it will not always exist. As humans we try in vain to hold on to the things of this earth. We hold on to our jobs, our education, our possessions. It is through God's mercy that we see the world for what it is: temporary. God did not have to reveal to us. He chose to. As a result, we are empowered through the knowledge of God to live for eternity rather than the present.

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Confidence in Sovereign Mercy

Having a relationship with God is something that we must take seriously. He should not be some casual acquaintance. He is, after all, the One who knits us together. He is the Author and Perfecter of our faith, and the One who directs our paths. Psalm 46:10 exhorts us to be still and know that He is God.

And it is this God, the God, who has a good plan and purpose for our lives. Jeremiah 29:11 states, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" Our God really does want the best for us. He wants to see us succeed and run after Him. We are not divine, and we do not have the privilege of knowing how life will turn out. Even when life takes turns we do not expect, we can know and trust that our God is good.

Death, for example, is a part of life. Yet God is sovereign and in control over every season of our lives. John Piper writes, "When George Muller's wife of 39 years died, he preached her funeral sermon from the text 'Thou art good and doest good' (Ps. 119:68)... The Lord's will was to take her. Therefore, with great confidence in the sovereign mercy of God, Muller said, 'I bow, I am satisfied with the will of my Heavenly Father.'" Surrendering is not easy, but because God is sovereign and merciful, we can stand firm in Him, no matter the season of our lives.

Living Life