Romans 9:15 For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
How is it that I am to respond to God's mercy? So often we hear and read about what scripture says; the natures and characteristics of God, His provision to his chosen, etc...but often, and unintentionally does the notion of 'why we believe it' get lost in the mix. What is God's mercy in my life? Why should I understand God's mercy in my life?
Not only do we take the implication and application of scripture to our lives, but the integrity of Scripture as Divinely inspired. In principle, that we love the things of God because of who He is first, and second, because of our condition and need for Him. Understanding that basic concept will change everything about why we believe the things we do, not just mercy.
Some things we are to just accept and come to terms with. And yet other things still can be seen in a tangible way. In a way often titled under the blanket explanation of "blessings".
Briefly, the mercy of God is this: unparalleled, persistent, unmerited favor cast in the backdrop of moral decay, radical depravity and spiritual decline. All people experience, to a degree, the mercy of God. The fact that I wasn't wiped off the planet because of my sins from an hour ago is a divine miracle. By the fact that I get to experience the wonderful present and long term affects in my soul from His salvation is itself God's mercy. The fact that people who will never be saved get to continue living and breathing experience God's general grace, which is God being merciful to them.
But mercy is not only God's long-suffering kindness. There is so much more to it that I can't even do justice to explain. For one, it is a provision to the Christian, to me, as a way of becoming a holy (set apart) people. What do I mean by this? Simply, that God doesn't allow me to continue living and expect me to figure it out without Him. That because of Him, I have direction and I'm not stuck up creek without a paddle.
Tangibly: My Lord pursuing me to be so intentional and personal in ways so inexplicable that it would take up 30,000 blog posts just to scratch the surface. God's mercy. God's word preserved throughout centuries and in my hands today, to learn, know, cherish and grow in what God says about himself, redemption and who I'm to be. God's mercy. That I have men like Bryan, Dan, Billy, Paul Stoddard, Josh Whitney and Steele in my life as godly leaders to shepherd me, teach me, guide me, correct me, bless me. God's mercy. That I have accountability with Tadd, Andrew, Rhett and David - noted that all of us are in different stages of our walk with the Lord, yet all in the same communion as a brotherhood with our Lord. God's mercy. That God gave me music as a way to get my heart outside; to unashamedly and limitlessly dance before my King and sing a new song. God's mercy, all of it, in a living, vibrant way.
How otherwise would I carry on? I wouldn't. As an example, apart from God's mercy, I would not know Bryan. God took the coolest kid in Salt Lake away from his fame, pride, girl, band, crew, pagan life, saved him, transformed him and set him apart to be one of my best friends and spiritual leaders. God in his mercy gave Bryan back his girl, a heavy band that still comes down hard, and a crew that studies the bible instead of getting drunk and smoking pot. God took a wallflower homeschool kid like me, who grew up wanting validation from everyone else and not pursuing Christ like I should have done. I was living a pagan lifestyle as well. God's mercy brought me through trials of depression, sexual pursuits with girls, and a severe identity crisis. God's mercy gave me hope. God's mercy validated me. God's mercy gave me identity. God brought two completely different dudes together for His divine purpose, and gave us totally new lives. God's mercy is seen when Slayer (Bry) and Coldplay (Me) get to play together in a folk/country/rock band to lift praises to our King and lead the saints in worship. That is incredible. You just can't write something like that...not to mention all the other weird combos God puts together through the wonderful, beautiful entanglement that is our Rock Church body of Christ. God's mercy.
So I am to respond to God's mercy with gratitude, faithfulness, good stewardship and reiteration; being merciful to others. And like the song goes, "I'll throw my life upon all that You are, because I know you gave it all for me..." Throw my life...wow. What a response that would be. What a marvelous goal to shoot for every single day. A whole new light of taking up my cross...
Soli Deo Gloria
-Hayden
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