Mercy: I Haven't Received What I DESERVE!!

I've been searching for fairness my entire life. As a little boy it was found by inspecting the pieces of cake Mom had divided between my brother and me. In school, it was who got picked to be the line leader more than everyone else. And, why did I have to buy my own car while other kids had their cars given to them?

Have you ever noticed that what we believe is fair is the basis of what we believe we deserve?

 My dad was in high school in the 1970's. No matter what decade you're from, the final week of school means one thing, TESTS. But, since you don't know what my dad was like back then, I'll compare him to someone you may currently know. 

He/She sits in the back corner of the class, never on time, and shows up if there isn't anything better going on. Books? What are those for? Their mind's on the next party or hanging out with their significant other. They truly deserve to fail.

When my dad's teacher handed back his test, it had the deserved "F" plastered to the top of the page. My dad may have not cared about class, but dreaded the trouble he would be in for having to attend summer school instead of being able to work with his father. Life as he knew it was about to end, so he made his way to the front to meet the teacher at his huge and uninviting desk. "Please sir, this 'F' will keep me from passing." After a short discussion, the teacher took my dad's paper and gave him a "D- -". Yup, you read that right. Two minuses!! LOL.

He didn't receive what he deserved. That's Mercy! 

Have you ever needed mercy? In Romans chapter 3, the Bible tells us that the cost of sin is death. 

After the first sin, the Bible records in Genesis 3:21 that God sacrificed an animal to cover the naked feeling of Adam and Eve.

While that covering would only cover their sin or provide forbearance (for all you college people) for their debt of sin, he didn't just delay the curse of death. He delivered mankind through His Son so that we would not have to live with a "D- -"  but that grace could show up and give us an "A++"

Mercy may have kept us from receiving what we deserved, but GRACE will give us what we don't deserve. 

Read Psalm 51 and see if you have ever felt like David did.

Challenge: Continue to pray over the lives of your friends that are only living under the mercy of God. While God's mercy may keep them, it is through his GRACE that they will find life.