Open Heaven 14 October 2018 Sunday Daily Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye
Topic: Mercy Prevails Over Judgement
Memorise: “For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.”- James 2:13
Read: Psalm 51:1-14 (KJV)
1 (To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.) Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
Bible in One Year: Isaiah 61-64, Luke 6:24-45
MESSAGE:
For us as human beings, mercy is one of the most essential attributes of God, because this is God’s character by which He faithfully keeps His covenant, fulfils His promises and maintains His relationship with His children, despite our shortcomings, unworthiness and unfaithfulness (Romans 9:15-16). Mercy connotes goodness, grace, favor and steadfast love (Ephesians 2:4). The most prominent aspect of mercy is the compassionate disposition to forgive an offender in order to help his or her sorry situation.
The Bible shows that Jesus is God’s mercy personified, and by His death and resurrection, we have open access to God’s mercy. 1 Peter 1:3 says:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”
God’s mercy brings about the conversion of sinners, instructs the ignorant, counsels the doubtful and comforts the sorrowful. It also forgives and overlooks injurious acts, and patiently puts up with human errors and weaknesses. The mercy of Jesus Christ earns us His free legal representation before the Father, and secures the Spirit’s continued intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered. Against this background, we can boldly say that God’s mercy prevails over judgment, as stated in today’s memory verse. Interestingly, two terms are commonly used to explain the relationship between mercy and judgment in this passage. One says mercy “triumphs over” judgment. Both descriptions paint vivid pictures of victory and celebration in seemingly hopeless situation.
Knowing that judgment is the deserved consequences for sin, the intervention of divine mercy that turns things around and makes a culprit “rejoice against” and “triumph over” judgment is indeed a miracle. The ultimate act of God’s mercy is the work of substitution that Jesus Christ performed on the cross of Calvary. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says:
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
God’s mercy is still flowing from the throne of grace today. Irrespective of your shortcomings, go before His throne in humility, and you will receive mercy to triumph over sin, sickness, failure, poverty and everything that is working against your peace.
Prayer Point: Father, please let Your mercy prevail over every unfavorable judgment against my life, in Jesus’ Name.
Hymn 3: What Can Wash Away My Sins?
1. What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Chorus:
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
2. For my cleansing this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my pardon this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
3. Nothing can for sin erase
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of works, ‘tis all of grace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
4. This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
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