Merciful God

Call To Prayer

Title: Merciful God

By: Njuacha Hubert

Date: 20.07.2024

 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16

The Bible says all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). However we need to understand that God is merciful and forgives our sins when we ask for mercy. This mercy nonetheless was not obtained without a heavy price but through the blood of Jesus who suffered and died for our sins to be forgiven if we ask through him (1 John 2:2).

Despite this knowledge, when we fall into temptation and ask for mercy we could be attacked by the enemy in the form of a lingering guilt and suggestions to give up and return to sin (or even kill yourself like Judas Iscariot). Perhaps a voice of pride also speaks because we have already been forgiven when we ask for mercy through the blood of Jesus Christ but remain disappointed in ourselves. Remorse is good but when it lingers after seeking and obtaining mercy it’s no longer God’s will; instead at this point, we should be filled with gratitude towards God and also be motivated to show others mercy (Matthew 18:32-33). That is God’s expectation!

Grace expressed through mercy is not a licence or encouragement to sin (Romans 6:1). We cannot deliberately continue in sin instead we should seek to grow in faith to overcome and keep resisting temptation. Continuing in sin deliberately will harden your heart; pride will grow in you so much such that it can corrupt your existing faith and then you, by yourself, will denounce Jesus and be cut off from the vine thereby losing your salvation.

We sin because of a lack of faith in an area and so should seek to grow in faith in that area (Romans 1:17, John 16: 8-10).

Prayer Point: 

Let’s thank God for His mercy through Christ Jesus. Let’s pray for the grace to run back to God quickly if we fall into temptation and reject lingering guilt while accepting gratitude and motivation to forgive others. Again let’s pray we see to grow in faith to overcome sin.