Κύριε ἐλέησον

Anyone with half a heart will be dismayed at the depth and extent of suffering humanity endures.  Such a large part of this is due to foolishness, ignorance and even evil with which we engage life.  It is mind numbing to think that 20 million Americans were not giving the chance to live, learn and love as their lives were cut very short by legal abortion in the last three decades.

So many of us suffer greatly because of events around us or even our own actions.  We follow our own ways that lead to pain.  Many have never been taught God's way and even if we do know them we disobey.

WRATH vs MERCY

Paul, in Ephesians 2:1-7, describes the natural broken state of people and God's response of love and mercy.  While we are dead He starts to revive us.  I believe Paul is saying; "There is a dead person walking with the seeds of eternal life growing in his spirit.  It is because of "kindness to us in Christ Jesus" that the Father has already giving us a seat in Heaven".

It is the Mercy of God that we need to learn about, believe and cling onto in our state of brokenness.  For thousands of years believers have cried out Κύριε ἐλέησον, Lord have mercy.  The early church used to cry out this prayer up to forty times in their gathering.

MERCY - THE NAME & NATURE OF GOD

"The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and rich in mercy. He will not always chasten, nor will He keep His anger forever." (Psalm 103:8,9)

"The LORD is gracious and full of pity; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The LORD is good to all; and His tender mercies are over all His works." (Psalm 145:8)

MERCY ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO KNEEL

In a merciless world we ask, how do we find mercy again?  The Ten Commandments give us a startling answer.

"You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make to yourselves any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them. For I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the sons to the third and fourth generation of those that hate me, and showing mercy to thousands of those that love Me and keep My commandments." Exodus 20:2-6)

The promise of mercy is here for those who worship God alone and keep His commandments.  That commandment is Love.  The summary of His commandments are always love for Him and others.

Again in Deuteronomy 4 (esp v 25-31) Moses sets out the environment in which the Mercy of God is available (4:31).  It is found primarily in Him and false worship or rejection of His love leads to destruction.

A PEOPLE SHOWN MERCY SHOULD LIVE IN MERCY

Many Old Testament scholars regard Hosea 6:6 as the height and summary of O.T. prophecy.  Here God says, "For I desired mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." (Hosea 6:6)

It is only after experiencing the mercy of God in Jesus that this mercy will mark every action.  We need to administer the mercy of God by believing it, teaching it and passing it on by the healing gifts of the Holy Spirit.

The world is judged already.  Let us live and show of the mercy of God  to all who will listen and receive.