A person who has good health requires a healthy blood, the blood is healthy when it has the RBC (Red blood cells) and WBC (White blood cells), it helps every cell of the body with various functions to fight the virus that attacks the body, sometime it helps as a transporter to give the right minerals needed for the growth of the body. Same is the case with God. Jesus gave his life to us and shed his blood on the cross. Our Saviour Lord Jesus did this work on the cross to save each one of us from the darkness of sin. Our Saviour Jesus has a character of mercy and compassion, its in this character he went to Cross and conquered death for us and freedom from sins.
John 3:17 'For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. '
We all know more that he is merciful to us and he is compassionate to us. So what is this mercy and compassion that God has ?
Like how a blood has RBC and WBC, our Lord has this Mercy (RBC) and compassion (WBC) to us.
God’s Mercy
What is mercy ? - Mercy is the compassionate treatment of those in distress, especially when it is within one's power to punish or harm them, this is the definition I found in internet when I searched for mercy.
What is God’s mercy ? Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God - As we walk in the world, we commit number of sins, we feel its right from our Saviour’s view we will be in fault of sin, Ideally he has the power to punish us, but because of his mercy we are spared us.
Why did God have mercy on us ? Many times we are being lead to sin not only by our own desires but by the acts of Satan, we give into believing what Satan says is correct. Some time we also do these wilfully knowing its a sin. So punishing one who has fallen short of glory because of the Satan’s action is unfair so he chose to give mercy to us.
What does this mercy do to us ?
We are Chosen because of his mercy
God chose each of us. We did not choose God John 1:10,12-13 'He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
If you ask any one, did you come to God because you wanted to come to God? Not our will or our effort but God's mercy ! we would have had a situation in life that forced us to come to God. Its his mercy that lead us to that situation to trust in him and depend on him.
Salvation & Spiritual Blessings Given to us out of his mercy
Salvation - Jesus our saviour gives salvation to us. its thru that salivation we came to know Jesus is the Lord, its thru this salvation we have the doors to him for an eternal life. Because of the Love for us he gave this salvation for us - Ephesians 2: 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy
Sonship - Thru the faith we have inherited his sonship 2 Corinthians 6:18 'And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”', As a children, we are given the gifts of His limitless mercy, grace and love
Freedom from Sins - He fills us with mercy when we confess our Sins - Proverbs 28:13 'Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. '
Unrighteous to Righteousness - We were mucked up in sin in our life, we always feel self righteous, but still out of his love he gave us this salvation from this act we are rebirth’ed as a new person the old life of unrighteous is gone to make us a righteous in his eyes. This entire act was done out of his Mercy. Titus 3: 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit
Does this mercy differ person to Person ?
Our Saviour Jesus mercy is not based on human desires or effort. Its based on his decision. Some one who Sins is given more, some one who is righteous may think he is not given less mercy to condemn him quickly.. God’s mercy flows out of Love. Romans 9:16 'It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. ‘
For some he is able to build like David, for some he is able to build like Pharaoh. God has a purpose and will to do in this world based on his plan. For some he makes them as Pharaoh out of his mercy.
We have no right to question why this mercy is more for one and different for another - So don’t question God to say why that person is better than me or vice versa.
Romans 9:18 'Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. '
Romans 9:20-21 'But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ ” Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use? '
Our human wisdom cannot comprehend why God has made one a Pharaoh or one a David, same way we cannot say why its high to one person and low to another person.
Romans 11: 33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
Romans 11:34-36 '“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.'
How big is this mercy ?
It lasts from Generation to generation, provided we are walking under his wings - Deuteronomy 7:9 'Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. '
Even after we fail or rebuke his teaching / instruction he is still merciful to us. Daniel 9:9 'The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; '
God’s character is mercy, it cannot be measured - Can you measure a person’s character ? - Luke 6:36 'Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. '
Out of his mercy he brings the empathy to fight in our weakness, by giving Grace and mercy - Hebrews 4:15-16 'For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.'
How is mercy and grace different?
Mercy and Grace are closely related. While the terms have similar meanings, grace and mercy are not exactly the same.
Mercy has to do with kindness and compassion; it is often spoken of in the context of God’s not punishing us as our sins deserve.
Grace includes kindness and compassion, but also carries a gift from God with a favour to us.
We deserved judgment, but in Christ we receive mercy from God and are delivered from judgment. In Christ we receive eternal salvation, forgiveness of sins, and abundant life (John 10:10 'The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. )—all gifts of grace.
We should fall to his knees and worship him for our Saviour’s response to the mercy and grace of God Hebrews 4:16 'Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.'
God’s Compassion
What is compassion ? - Compassion literally means “to suffer together.” Among emotion researchers, it is defined as the feeling that arises when you are confronted with another's suffering and feel motivated to relieve that suffering. Compassion is not the same as empathy or altruism, though the concepts are related.
What is God’s Compassion ?
God gave the Law thru Moses to be followed but the law was dependent on human self desire. Every time we followed the law, the human desired scudded the law to make us sinners.
God was pained that he wanted to find a reason to save us from this sin, so he sent his one and only son Jesus to be a sin offering - This work of God was out of compassion to us on our sins. Romans 8:3-4 'For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. '
Out of his compassion we receive Grace
Out of his compassion he gives his righteousness to make us perfect in our imperfect state
Out of his compassion he gives us his Holy Spirit to fight the world
Out of his compassion he gives us gifts of his Holy Spirit
Out of his compassion he gives us the first fruits of spiritual gifts - Galatians 5:22-23 'But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. '
He is our father who is compassionate to his children - Isaiah 54:7 “For a brief moment I abandoned you,but with deep compassion I will bring you back.
He is so compassionate to restore or double our blessings - Jeremiah 12:15 But after I uproot them, I will again have compassion and will bring each of them back to their own inheritance and their own country.
Our God shows his compassion to us based on the promises he made to our forefathers, not based on what we did - 2 Kings 13: 23 But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern for them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To this day he has been unwilling to destroy them or banish them from his presence.
On whom does God show compassion?
Non Christians or any one who does not know our Lord Saviour Jesus - When we are a gentile - don’t know God, he shows compassion that they should not be destroyed because of the sin ( like sheep without a shepherd) . He shows his compassion out of love for them. Thru the work of his cross we get salvation
John 3:16-17 'For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. '
Matthew 9:36-38 'When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”'
God is compassionate on those who fear him. Psalms 103:13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
Fear that he is GOD, he holds all the powers on us. He has power to do anything
Fear God that he hates sin, so any sin that’s committed,the wrath of his punishment fear
Fear to obey his words and listen to his words.
Fear to love him like how you would love yourself.
God’s compassion runs high for those who persevere the struggles they go thru as they obey his words - James 5:11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. '
God’s compassion runs high on righteous suffering to produce fruits that cannot be reversed like how Jesus died on the cross to make us righteous
1 Peter 3:14,18 'But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats ; do not be frightened.” For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. '
He is empathetic in that situation to us - Hebrews 4:15-16 'For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.'
So how do we get this Mercy & Compassion ?
We can receive this mercy and compassion with a simple ABC Steps.
Accept (A) -
Accept to God that you are sinner, you fall short in God’s glory, you are a filthy rags Isaiah 64:6'All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. '
Accept your pride and abominations to God. Once we accept that we receive mercy. Accept wholeheartedly, not just by mouth and deny from your heart.
Believe (B)
Believe that Jesus is the saviour from your sin. Without him there is no way for you to get rid of the sin that you are in bondage to, no matter what ever worst sin that you can thing of..
Faith in Jesus is important, without which you cannot please God - Hebrews 11:6 'And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. '
Confess (C)
Confess to God your sins, When you confess and surrender to him, he will take that and wash with his blood to forgive the sin. Proverbs 28:13 'Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. '
When you confess your situation to him, he will give the comfort and peace Matthew 11:28-29 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. '
Confess your desires / life goals ,he will fulfill it according to his desires - Proverbs 16:3-4 'Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. The Lord works out everything to its proper end— even the wicked for a day of disaster. '