God's Great Mercy

My son recently turned three years old. So we had this crazy party for him! Jumping castle. Very real-looking dinosaurs. A banging playlist. All his mates from play school.  And a big chocolate cake. Kids had chocolate all over their faces the whole time.

It was wild!

If you don’t have groms - let me tell you, people LOVE giving toddlers presents. They get absolutely showered with pressies on Christmas and birthdays. My son’s third birthday was no different. 

Presents coming at him left, right and centre. Every where he turned - a new dump truck or toy car poised for ruthless unravelling. Certainly a profitable day for him.

At first, his face lit up with pure elation—grateful for each gift he received. But as the presents kept coming, I slowly noticed a change in his demeanor. Gratitude gave way to something else; instead of appreciating each new gift, it began to feel like an expectation, as if he somehow deserved them.

How could you expect any other reaction form 36-month-old child who’s been unadulteratedly showered with presents? It’s exactly the response you deserve.

As I watched this unfold - I began to see parallels in my own life. Like when I’m living right (in my own eyes) valuing what the Bible calls me to value. Revolving my life around Him and His word. Subconsciously, I begin to expect things to go my way. 

Recently I was reading through the book of Daniel, and in a prayer to God, Daniel says: “We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.”

Daniel, probably one of the most righteous men to walk the earth, asks God to listen to his request, not because he is righteous - but because God is merciful.

Peter writes: “It is by His great mercy that we have been born again...”

What in our lives is deserved or owed? 

It is because of God’s great mercy that he hears us. It is because of His great mercy that he shows us kindness. 

And our response to this? That we continually walk in humility. Deeply grateful for the things that we receive and do not deserve. 

“In every situation (no matter what the circumstance) be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.’ - 1 Thessalonians 5:18

By Cyle Myers