Unlimited: You Have Received Mercy
Jun 14, 2023 456
Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you (Romans 11:30–31).
Throughout Romans 11, the apostle Paul continually compares the salvation of the Gentiles and the salvation of the Jews. This is what he is saying here in these two verses. That’s why Paul uses the phrases, “Just as you”, “so they too”, and “they too may.” In other words, Paul isn’t saying that the Jews and the Gentiles are saved at different times and in different ways. He is saying, quite the opposite. The salvation of the Jews is the same as the salvation of the Gentiles.
However, the most important thing that Paul is telling you here is that you have received mercy! The mercy of God toward wayward humanity is a golden thread that runs throughout Scripture. When Adam and Eve sinned and hid from God, he came and looked for them in mercy (Gen. 3:8–9.) Jesus, in his incarnation, life, death, and resurrection is God’s greatest expression of mercy to the world, resulting in our justification by grace (Eph. 2:4–10.)
The most important thing that Paul is telling you here is that you have received mercy!
The channel of God’s mercy to the world is through Jesus, and specifically through his saving sacrifice at Calvary. Because of it we are encouraged:
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Heb 4:16.)
Spiritual Application
Make a written list of the ways in which you have received mercy from God. Be specific. Use it as a basis of a deep prayer of gratitude and surrender.
ROWLAND HELEGBE.
Jun 14, 2023
1. When I was growing up, I entered someone’s room and stole a WATCH and went to sell it outside. In the process of selling the Watch, I went and sold the Watch to a Watch repairer who happens to have worked on that watch not quite long and therefore knew the owner of the Watch. Rev Gonzalez, this is where God’s mercy fell wonderfully on me. The Watch repairer asked me where I got the Watch from and I told him I found it on the ground, there he told me he knew the owner and that, he came and reported the loss of the Watch to him and made it known to him that if he did not find that Watch, he will send the thief to an Oracle to be killed. It was a Saturday and he was to go to the shrine on Monday. The mercy bell rang in my ears and I told the repairer to send the Watch to the man , and I am no more interested in selling it. That was in the year 1967 of which I should have been dead long ago. I am therefore very grateful to God for that exceptional Mercy.