May 19, 2021
Dear SCC & Friends,
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life… ~Proverbs 23:6
Update #63
Southern California is a beautiful place to live…beaches, mountains, lakes, parks and almost always great weather. As the pandemic abates it’s been refreshing to see our grandchildren enjoying the outdoors once again…Little League baseball, girls’ softball, soccer and more. Some of their games are close, but often times the scores are quite lopsided. An interesting twist in many youth sports is something called the “mercy rule.” If one team is obviously overmatched and far behind, the mercy rule “kicks in” to avoid complete and total carnage. Most of the kids have experienced both ends of the spectrum… “We mercied them,” or, “We got mercied.” A good life lesson that we are either needing mercy or extending it to others. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. ~Matt. 5:7 That’s a promise!
By its very nature, mercy is never deserved and is certainly not a right. It is a dispensation that tempers justice and forebears a punishment that is warranted. The French word for mercy is “merci,” which means thank you. Wordsmiths say there is nothing in English that directly translates the word mercy. The closest synonym is grace which means unmerited favor, a clemency not deserved. May we remember the many times the Lord “mercied us,” especially the next time we are tempted to say, “I don’t deserve this.” May we never forget and always be mindful of our true condition… He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. ~Ps. 103:10 God’s mercy is nothing we can achieve, rather it is simply received through His goodness and lovingkindness. For by mercy (grace) you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God…~ Eph. 2:8 Life itself is a gift of God, and these are the days He ordained for us. The Lord’s mercies are new every morning! Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need. ~Heb. 4:16 As we have received mercy, may we extend mercy with grace and love. Keep up the good work!
Thanks be to God, Who has not rejected my prayer or taken away His mercy from me. ~Ps. 66:20
Kevin