Day Forty Nine: Asking for God's Mercy in The Midst of A Storm
I got a bit of a wake up call yesterday while riding with my nephew. I was complaining about the restrictions and the ostracization that is happening right now. I actually said that I wished they would stop the hype surrounding this virus that makes it so difficult for older folks. He gave me a earful about what he has seen and heard while doing his job. He really didn't have a clue about the increased pressure older folks are under right now due to this pandemic. Some of it is very unwarranted, and is probably the reason why some are sickening and dying now.
I tried to put things in perspective. I remained quiet as he tore into me, knowing that he had a completely different view. It is the view, unfortunately that many younger people have right now. They think that they are helping us by wearing the disposable masks and gloves everywhere. They are not. Instead the result is that they are enforcing the agenda that says that older folk can't take care of themselves. They enforce the agenda that old folks don't deserve to work, and should all be on welfare. Yes, this virus is deadly and it does disproportionately attack those who are 65 and older with compromised immune systems. I am not that old, but have been inadvertently lumped in that category by well meaning people. I understand the fear, but it is definitely getting out of hand.
I believe that a better response is to show mercy, and allow old folks to make their own decisions about their health. I think the only way that's going to happen is returning to God. In 2 Chronicles 30:9(KJV) the Israelites are asking for God to intervene for them. God's answer is: "For if ye turn again unto the Lord, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into the land; for the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him." Nehemiah 9:31(KJV) offers another promise. It reads: "Nevertheless for thy great mercies' sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them, for thou art a gracious and merciful God."
I have been guilty of forgetting God's mercies. I am selfish, and I admit that freely. I look at Psalms 25:6-7(KJV) and say with the psalmist these words: "Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness sake, O Lord." Then I can take the promise written in Psalms 23:6 (KJV) which reads: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." What a great promise! How I long to dwell in the Lord's house!
I think a bit of what I'm feeling now is that there doesn't appear to be any truth. So my prayer has to be as is stated in Psalms 40:11(KJV) "Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord; let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me." Did you get that last part? I need God's truth and not man's truth. I've seen a lot of people trying desperately to cover up their lies, and hype up the numbers to the detriment of all. I know that it states in Proverbs 28:13(KJV) that "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." This is the key. Psalms 51:1-2 also emphasize that need to confess transgressions in order to receive God's mercy.
It is interesting to note that there is a limitation on God's mercy upon a sinful and unrepentant world. We definitely need to understand this. Yes, God is merciful. Yes, he does love the world. God though is also a God of wrath. Jeremiah 3:12(KJV) is a good verse that shows that God won't hold his anger forever. It reads: "Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you; for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger forever." I am thankful that if we return to him, that he is merciful to us. Isaiah 55:7(KJV) states this concept clearly. It reads: "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."
It is sad to note that not many churches have emphasized sin and our need for a Savior. I cringe every time someone says "we'll get through this together" or tells people that they just have to do this or that and they will be fine. No, we are not fine. We have grievously sinned, and this pandemic is a wake up call to repent and turn back from our wickedness. We need to get more into the Bible, and rely less on false and misleading propaganda that is designed to turn people further from the truth.
Lamentations 3:22-23(KJV) tells us that "it is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassion fail not. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness." I praise God for his great mercy through this storm. Micah 6:8(KJV) sums it up perfectly. It reads: "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good, and what the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God." God's mercy is what drives me. So it is good to remember them in the midst of a storm.
I know I have been focused more on the Old Testament in this blog post. There are some good New Testament verses as well. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught the disciples parables. Matthew 5:7(KJV) says: "Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy." Jesus states his purpose in Matthew 9:13(KJV) He tells the disciples "But go ye and learn what that meanth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Luke 6:36(KJV) also emphasizes the point that "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful."
When we ask for God's mercy in the midst of a storm, we can be assured that he hears us. Ephesians 2:4-5(KJV) states this clearly. It reads: "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." I know that I said that I cringed whenever anyone said "we'll get through this together." The reason is that I don't see any real repentance here with these words. To be honest, it just sounds like we're leaving God out, when we really need to bring God in.
I look at James 3:13(KJV) which echoes my thoughts. "For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment." That means if we aren't looking for God's mercy, then we are judged. We can't do anything without him. I'll leave you with one last verse that you can reflect on over the weekend. In I Peter 1:3(KJV) we read: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." Thank you, Jesus!
I tried to put things in perspective. I remained quiet as he tore into me, knowing that he had a completely different view. It is the view, unfortunately that many younger people have right now. They think that they are helping us by wearing the disposable masks and gloves everywhere. They are not. Instead the result is that they are enforcing the agenda that says that older folk can't take care of themselves. They enforce the agenda that old folks don't deserve to work, and should all be on welfare. Yes, this virus is deadly and it does disproportionately attack those who are 65 and older with compromised immune systems. I am not that old, but have been inadvertently lumped in that category by well meaning people. I understand the fear, but it is definitely getting out of hand.
I believe that a better response is to show mercy, and allow old folks to make their own decisions about their health. I think the only way that's going to happen is returning to God. In 2 Chronicles 30:9(KJV) the Israelites are asking for God to intervene for them. God's answer is: "For if ye turn again unto the Lord, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into the land; for the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him." Nehemiah 9:31(KJV) offers another promise. It reads: "Nevertheless for thy great mercies' sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them, for thou art a gracious and merciful God."
I have been guilty of forgetting God's mercies. I am selfish, and I admit that freely. I look at Psalms 25:6-7(KJV) and say with the psalmist these words: "Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness sake, O Lord." Then I can take the promise written in Psalms 23:6 (KJV) which reads: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." What a great promise! How I long to dwell in the Lord's house!
I think a bit of what I'm feeling now is that there doesn't appear to be any truth. So my prayer has to be as is stated in Psalms 40:11(KJV) "Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord; let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me." Did you get that last part? I need God's truth and not man's truth. I've seen a lot of people trying desperately to cover up their lies, and hype up the numbers to the detriment of all. I know that it states in Proverbs 28:13(KJV) that "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." This is the key. Psalms 51:1-2 also emphasize that need to confess transgressions in order to receive God's mercy.
It is interesting to note that there is a limitation on God's mercy upon a sinful and unrepentant world. We definitely need to understand this. Yes, God is merciful. Yes, he does love the world. God though is also a God of wrath. Jeremiah 3:12(KJV) is a good verse that shows that God won't hold his anger forever. It reads: "Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you; for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger forever." I am thankful that if we return to him, that he is merciful to us. Isaiah 55:7(KJV) states this concept clearly. It reads: "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."
It is sad to note that not many churches have emphasized sin and our need for a Savior. I cringe every time someone says "we'll get through this together" or tells people that they just have to do this or that and they will be fine. No, we are not fine. We have grievously sinned, and this pandemic is a wake up call to repent and turn back from our wickedness. We need to get more into the Bible, and rely less on false and misleading propaganda that is designed to turn people further from the truth.
Lamentations 3:22-23(KJV) tells us that "it is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassion fail not. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness." I praise God for his great mercy through this storm. Micah 6:8(KJV) sums it up perfectly. It reads: "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good, and what the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God." God's mercy is what drives me. So it is good to remember them in the midst of a storm.
I know I have been focused more on the Old Testament in this blog post. There are some good New Testament verses as well. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught the disciples parables. Matthew 5:7(KJV) says: "Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy." Jesus states his purpose in Matthew 9:13(KJV) He tells the disciples "But go ye and learn what that meanth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Luke 6:36(KJV) also emphasizes the point that "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful."
When we ask for God's mercy in the midst of a storm, we can be assured that he hears us. Ephesians 2:4-5(KJV) states this clearly. It reads: "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." I know that I said that I cringed whenever anyone said "we'll get through this together." The reason is that I don't see any real repentance here with these words. To be honest, it just sounds like we're leaving God out, when we really need to bring God in.
I look at James 3:13(KJV) which echoes my thoughts. "For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment." That means if we aren't looking for God's mercy, then we are judged. We can't do anything without him. I'll leave you with one last verse that you can reflect on over the weekend. In I Peter 1:3(KJV) we read: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." Thank you, Jesus!
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