A STUPID GAME
It was a stupid game!
When I was in 6th and 7th grade in a country school some of the boys played a game during recess called Mercy. Two boys would put their hands up and interlock their fingers and we would see who had the strongest hands. You would bend the fingers and hands back till your opponent cried out from pain, Mercy Mercy! The game was over and there was a winner and a loser. Like I said, it was a dumb game. That game reminds me of something in the Bible. Mercy is a term used in the Old Testament 68 times and the New Testament 55 times. The Biblical definition says, when God out of His lovingkindness withholds punishment that we rightfully deserve because of sin, disobedience, (John 3:16, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:8, Ephesians 2:8&9). Untold numbers received mercy from Jesus before His death on the cross, one thing, they sought Him out and asked Him for mercy or compassion, (Matthew 9:27, 15:22, Mark 10:47&48). One mistake we can make is to think we can do anything and just say we want mercy. It does not work that way God will have mercy on whomever He wants and some He won’t, (Romans 9:15, 16 & 18). Let us humbly approach God and ask for forgiveness and mercy, (Ephesians 2:4, Hebrews 4:16, 1Peter 1:3). Approaching the right attitude and asking humbly we just might find forgiveness and mercy. See you in Church next Sunday. Brother J