October 19, 2024
" For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations"
- Psalm 100:5 (NKJV)
Yesterday, we looked at the issue of mercy and we have learnt so far that mercy prevails over judgment and time. In today's devotional, we’ll explore the idea that mercy triumphs over helplessness. We will also look into how to obtain mercy.
Hebrews 4:16 serves as a powerful reminder for believers, assuring us that whenever we face challenges, we can approach the throne of grace with confidence to receive mercy. The core purpose of entering the holy of holies is mercy, and God's mercy delivers help.
Leviticus 16:11-17 shows us the previous pattern of obtaining mercy from God. It was only the high priest who could enter the holy of holies once a year to obtain mercy for himself and the whole of Israel.
Mercy triumphs over helplessness, allowing believers to approach the throne of grace to receive help.
However, in Matthew 27:50-51, when Jesus died, the veil was torn in two which has now given access to every believer to enter the holy of holies to obtain mercy individually (Ephesians 2:13-14).
We must remember that mercy is not just for sinners; it grants access to the help we need, even as believers, to overcome life’s challenges. As believers, we must learn to go to the throne of grace to collect mercy because once mercy is obtained, help must show up.
But how do we go about this? To provoke mercy, there are three things we must offer.
First is incense. Psalm 95:2 teaches us that to come into the presence of God, we must come with praise and thanksgiving. Similarly, Psalm 100:4 encourages us to enter His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.
The next thing we must offer before entering His presence for mercy is to plead the blood of Jesus as evidenced in Ephesians 2:13 which states that we who were far off have been brought near by the blood of Jesus. It is only by the blood of Jesus that we can gain access to the holy of holies.
Finally, when we enter His presence, we should ask for mercy concerning the challenges we face. It is here that we can receive the mercy that brings the assistance we require. A clear illustration of this is found in Mark 10:46-52, where blind Bartimaeus called out to Jesus for mercy as He walked by. This should be our attitude once we have entered the Holiest.
As we wrap up this short series on mercy, it's essential to recognize that mercy possesses the capacity to address life's challenges. We must learn to tap into its power by seeking God's mercy.
Song of Worship
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy on me
Prayer - Dear Lord, grant me your mercy to overcome every situation I am facing in my life presently. In Jesus’ name. Amen.