A Pause to Ponder God's Word
"Grace and Mercy"

The English language is a verbose language. Not only are there millions of words, many of them are interchangeable. We call them synonyms, different words that mean the same thing. Certainly all languages have synonyms, but English seems to have more than its fair share. There is really no problem with this, except, sometimes we consider words synonyms that are not, or we interchange synonyms without thinking about any differences that there might be between them.

Two biblical words that this often happens to are "grace" and "mercy." We see them as interchangeable, thinking of "mercy" as the Old Testament word and "grace" as the New Testament word, but, essentially having the same meaning. Such thinking is somewhat accurate, but as closely related as these two words are, there is a difference and that difference reflects the character of God, as well as the nature of our need.

Ephesians 2:1-5 wonderfully clarifies the uniqueness of both grace and mercy. "We were by nature objects of God's wrath. But, because of His great love for us, God, Who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our transgressions it is by grace you have been saved." (3d-5) Being objects of God's wrath and dead in our sin, we are in need of both God's mercy and grace. This is one reason why the writer of Hebrews implores us to "approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)

Mercy flows from God's withholding nature. He holds back what we deserve. We are objects of His wrath and deserving of it. But in love God withholds His wrath and offers us grace. Grace flows from is the giving nature of God. He gives us what we don't deserve, salvation. It is His unmerited favor towards us. God not only withholds His wrath, He makes us new creatures by His grace, so that we may walk in reconciled relationship with Him. Our need requires both mercy and grace, and God, "because of His great love for us," offers both. Through faith His mercy and grace are applied to our lives, making us "new creatures in Christ Jesus; saved!." (Ephesians 4:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17) No longer dead, we are alive. No longer condemned, we are pardoned. No longer objects of wrath, we are objects of grace.

Scripture is replete with the call for us to thrust ourselves upon God in view of His mercy and grace. In light of our desperate, helpless, hopeless, state, and God's mercy and grace, the most reasonable act is to approach His throne and "receive mercy and find grace." Indeed, in light of this, the most rational response is to offer our bodies as living sacrifices unto God, devoting ourselves to His way, the way of holiness. No boasting, only service to God in loving gratitude for His withholding what we do deserve and giving to us what we don't.

Beloved, to the throne of grace let us go "that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

Keep Close To Jesus
Pastor Gerry


A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome. To Subscribe Click Here.
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