Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Mercy…..an attribute of God

“Their feet run to do evil, and they rush to commit murder.
They think only about sinning.
Misery and destruction always follow them.


 They don’t know where to find peace or what it means to be just and good.
They have mapped out crooked roads, and no one who follows them knows a moment’s peace.”   Isa. 59:7-8  NLT

How awful it is to be without God in this world. There may be some that claim to acknowledge Him, but He has no real influence upon them.  They are completely controlled by their own will and desires of their flesh.

They do not pray or seek God’s influence in any way. Nothing in their life indicates a true belief in God.  The sinner is almost always guilty of self-flattery.  By doing so they desire only to please their own flesh and whatever that flesh leads them to do seems right in their own eyes.  This flattery is false, but it is necessary to cover their sinful deeds. 

They cannot admit what they really are and the darkness of their hearts because that would cause them to acknowledge their need for God. The more they brag on themselves they are able to deceive themselves of their own goodness. 

Self-flattery is much easier than working to obtain the praise of others.  The wicked have no case for their false self-flattery; it is based on their wicked pride alone.  Any success they may gain in this life will not make up for their guilt before a Holy God and will not alter their appointment with His judgment.

Their lips are a clear representation of the condition of their soul.

A wicked man may have an abundance of secular knowledge, but true wisdom only comes from God.  Thus, the wicked lack that which makes men wise.  Sin is a clear indication of ignorance and folly.  The foolish of this world are marked by the pleasures they seek, their hatred for righteousness, and the future they choose for themselves.

The wicked plan mischief on purpose, it is no accident that they do and say hurtful and destructive things.   Instead of thinking on the goodness and mercy of God, the wicked person will spend their time thinking of ways to go against God.  Their motivation for seeking knowledge is for the purpose of sin. There are many very intelligent sinners, but their knowledge is used for wickedness instead of righteousness.  Their actions defeat the purposes of good and that is why it is easy to spot them.

The character of God is in stark contrast to the sinner.  Mercy is the distinguishing attribute of God.  He delights in showing mercy and has proven that over and over as He has dealt with us.

This is a great comfort to those that love Him and a great terror to those that reject Him.

The sinner and the Saint alike experience the mercy of God every day.


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