Ephesians 2:4
Food for Thought
An all-creatures.org Guide to Kingdom Living

By Marni Montanez

Ephesians 2:4
New King James Version (NKJV)

4. But God, who is rich in mercy

When I looked up the word mercy, I saw the same definition given over and over mercy an act of kindness, compassion, or favor.

Doesn't that sound like what God does for us?

He is always showing kindness, compassion and favor.

He saved us from sin and death; He watches over us and provides for us. But this is only the beginning.

Tonight as I look out my window I see two trees silhouetted against the night sky.  They stand strong and tall as a reminder of God's mercy.  He knows that in all the abuse and neglect I see in a day, I need to see beauty and so He sends trees to give me hope and encouragement. I believe that in the long ago God created those trees so that in this moment, on this day when I felt weary and sad, I would look out my window and see them and smile. Mercy reveals itself in a flower's aroma or the sound of the blowing wind.  In this world of chaos and noises all around us, the sweet sounds of Eden are mercy to our ears.  You can see God's mercy everywhere in every day, if you open the eyes of your heart.  God doesn't owe us anything, in fact, it's we who owe Him, yet even when we are not as we should be, God continues to extend His hand of mercy and forgiveness.

God's mercies are moments throughout the day that balance out the troubles we must face. They keep us hoping and moving in the right direction.

He is always looking for ways to show us who He is.  He is Mercy as He walks knowingly through our lives encouraging us and giving us strength to continue on.  To know His mercy is to know that He is in control and we can dwell in peace. 

It is His kindness and compassion that stirs within us to offer a heart of mercy to others. But first we must receive from Him.  God’s mercies are fresh every day. He never tires of showing us His mercy and He never runs out of new ways to show us His mercy.

Look around you.  What is within your reach that expresses God's mercy toward you?  Is it your children, your pets, or maybe a view just outside your window?

Mercy is right before you, are you looking?

Marni

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The purpose of this series is to encourage people to live as loving, compassionate, and peacemaking children of God: Jesus tells us to pray, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10) God tells us through Micah (6:8), "He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God." And we know from Revelation 21:4 that there will be no more mourning, or crying, or pain, or death. Thus, Christian living requires us to set the standards of these conditions here on earth for our fellow human beings, and for the other animals, as a witness to the rest of the world. To do otherwise is not Christian.