MERCY AND PEACE!

 

Tuesday, September 29, 2026

 

MERCY AND PEACE!

 

Ps 85:10

10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

 

          We need mercy. There is something lacking in us and God, who has a limitless store, is both able and willing to provide relief. Mercy grows out of compassion and is manifested in real benefit. Such was the actions of the “good” Samaritan.

 

Luke 10:33-35

33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

 

"Wherever the words mercy and peace are found together they occur in that order, except in Gal 6:16. Mercy is the act of God, peace is the resulting experience in the heart of man. Grace describes God's attitude toward the lawbreaker and the rebel; mercy is His attitude toward those who are in distress."

 

From Notes on Galatians, by Hogg and Vine, pp. 340, 341.

(from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright © 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.)

 

2 John 3

3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

 

Dear Lord, many who read these words today will need your mercy. Give them both mercy and peace. AMEN

 

THE GOD OF HOPE!

 

Monday, September 28, 2026

 

THE GOD OF HOPE!

 

Rom 15:13

13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

 

          Paul, writing to the Romans, offers multiple views of God. In Romans 15:5, He is the God of patience and consolation. The patience is His and the consolation is ours! Here the word “consolation” is paraklesis and is the same word that is translated “comforter” when Jesus promised the Holy Spirit in John 14:16. The word is made more powerful by the use of a definite article making it “THE consolation.” Consolation is in the person of Jesus Christ.

 

          He is the God of peace in Romans 15:33 and the word “peace” is eirene and indicates both quietness and prosperity. It also is preceded by a definite article which makes it “THE peace.” Peace, both quietness and prosperity, is in the person of Jesus Christ.

 

          In our text this morning, He is the God of hope. Here hope is elpis (el-pece’) and means both expectation and confidence. Once again it is forcefully preceded by a definite article. The hope that we have in eternity is an expectant hope. It is like an “expectant” mother large with child. She is confident of delivery but uncertain of the date! Many signs, both visible and known only to her, assure her that her hope is well founded.

 

Dear Father, all around we see signs and evidence of your soon coming. Inside us also there is a confidence that our hope is well founded. Thank you Lord, that our hope, our peace and our consolation is firmly grounded in your person. AMEN

 

OUR FAITH IS ON DISPLAY!

 

Saturday, September 26, 2026

 

OUR FAITH IS ON DISPLAY!

 

1 Thess 1:8

8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

 

Matt 24:12

12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

 

          It is a poorly kept secret that we preachers have a God-given sense regarding your spiritual condition. We can sense whether your faith is growing or just growing cold. It makes us somewhat unpopular at casual gatherings where people would prefer to be themselves instead of who they want their preacher to think they are.

 

          As our relationship with God grows stronger and closer there are telltale signs that can’t be hidden. Moses, when he went up into the mountain to receive the ten commandments, returned to the people with a face that glowed. It frightened them and he was forced to wear a veil to mask the glory. (Exodus 34)

 

          Peter and John represented and reflected Jesus as they ministered in the book of Acts. Some things could not be hidden! They knew they had been with Jesus! (Acts 4:13)

 

          The Psalmist did not trust his own heart but asked God to investigate and reveal any wickedness He found.

 

Ps 139:23-24

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

 

Dear Lord, let my faith be of the kind that would not cause me shame if it were revealed openly. AMEN