Mercy Speaks!

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness and guilt And cleanse me from my sin. PSALM 51:1‭-‬2 AMP

Let's put today's extract in context: when you read stories of men and women in the Bible, you would think that God was too holy to be patient with men like David, who commited great sins. Here was a married man, expected at the war front but so careless that he was not where he was expected to be. First lesson: some of the problems we face and cry to God about are self-inflicted. We are in the wrong place at the wrong time, and then cry to God when the repercussions of our actions catch up with us.

Second lesson: None of the men of old were perfect in any way. Men stumbled through life, sometimes doing right, sometimes doing wrong, but one theme runs through the accounts of men of old: God's mercy. That is the central theme of today's extract and the central theme of our lives too.

David had taken another man's wife,  slept with her and killed the husband to cover up. He failed to account for the One who sees all done in secret. Third lesson: when dealing with God, let's avoid pretence. You are dealing with the Creator of the heart, who knows the deepest motives of a man's heart, no matter what the man tells himself.

Like David, our help is only in God. The power to live right is in God. The strength to live above sin is only in God. None of us has that power, none of us can make it on our own. Sin is an eternal stain, capable of dragging anyone to the fire of hell, but God's mercy that forgives, cleanses and restores is available for all who will surrender to him. Have you made that decision today? His time of favour is here.