The council in Cassandra Boyson’s Seeker’s Trilogy was responsible for maintaining law and order in the name of the “Great One.” Instead, they were corrupt, singling out people they deemed different for cruel treatment. Slowly the surrounding society began to decay—reflecting the council’s immoral ways. Yet in a surprising twist, the Great One righted the wrongs of that world by providing a river that transformed all who came into contact with it.
Like that river offering transformation without cost, Scripture abounds with examples of God extending undeserved mercy to people in surprising ways. Though Jonah did everything in his power to prevent it, God showered mercy on a wicked Assyrian nation when they chose to repent and turn to God (Jonah 3:10). Jesus gently but firmly silenced the accusers of a woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11), and He shocked onlookers by associating with the hated tax collectors—even choosing one to be in His core group of twelve disciples (Matthew 9:9-11).
People may ridicule believers in Jesus for their hope in Jesus’ return, saying “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? . . . Everything has remained the same since the world was first created” (2 Peter 3:4). But Peter reminds us that the timing of Jesus’ second coming is designed to allow repentance for as many as possible. He urges us not to “forget this one thing: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” (2 Peter 3:8-9).
His streams of mercy continue to flow today.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Mark 8:22–9:1
More:
Read Psalm 103:8-14 to see how God views and relates to us.
Next:
How do you feel God should treat those who have wronged you in some way? Are those feelings in line with how you’d like to be treated by God? What steps can you take to adopt God’s perspective on mercy?
Gary Shultz on July 22, 2017 at 6:57 am
Hi Remi: It is a strange thing as we read through the Psalms and read the words of requested retribution. How the new concepts of Christ, that turned the law to mercy and grace, looked oddly punchless. It is difficult not to want harm, revenge, or at least space between us and those we feel wronged us. I often feel, why does God wait so long on this wicked world to bring judgement? Then one weekend afternoon, in a hotel room, I turned on the TV and found a Harvest Ministry event. The speaker had a powerful message followed by the invitation, then like today’s picture a stream began to flow. It was made of people coming to find God’s mercy and forgiveness. At that instant, the Spirit convinced and convicted me, this is what I am waiting on. How selfish I felt. God has His foot in the door of history to allow all to come in before it is closed. I learned a great deal about God’s perspective that day. Thanks Remi
remioyedele2015 on July 22, 2017 at 1:45 pm
Hello Gary,
Thank you so much for sharing that testimony; it very beautifully illustrates the point of the message!!
Be blessed,
Remi
hsnpoor on July 22, 2017 at 10:49 am
The unbelievers among us really are blind and failing around in darkness. Before I write another word, I earnestly pray that God would open unbelieving eyes and give sight to the blind naysayers everywhere. How can anyone in their right mind look at this worlds history and not recognize that things have NOT remained unchanged? The devolution of mankind and the very firmament on which we live and breath are accelerating at a rapid pace. But because the Devil is such a masterful liar, the efficiency of that devolution has been cloaked as efficient evolution, much like a frog put in cold water and set on a burner to be slowly boiled to death. Rampant knowledge is being heralded as intelligent wisdom, when in fact it’s nothing more than knowledge in a vacuum which manifests as stupidity. The Emperor does NOT have on new clothes; he’s parading up & down the street butt naked and doesn’t have a clue.
If you’ve heard the Gospel message and felt something rise up in you to meet it, but your “intelligence” overrode your inclination to move forward to acceptance, I urge you to go back and re-examine that encounter with The divine. If you take the step and accept the message, on faith, what is the worst that could happen? You live a better life, with a purpose, on a higher plane than you were living before. And, if you find it was not true when you die, what’s the harm? Where is the foul? But, if you allow your intelligence to miss this opportunity and you die to find it was true, the consequences are horrific and eternal. You will have died as a highly intelligent fool, something you’ll have to live with and regret FOREVER. Stop playing the fool. Come to Jesus, just now.
remioyedele2015 on July 22, 2017 at 1:49 pm
Amen, hsn; I love your passion! May this truth indeed be received in Jesus Mighty Name.
Be blessed,
Remi
sandy229 on July 22, 2017 at 11:58 am
Thank you Remi for this devotional today.
I know that God sought me while a sinner and has worked through me even while I still have sin in my heart—what grace through Christ!
Heavenly Father, I pray that this truth will spur me toward wanting to give grace to others. Please help me to be as full of praise to you for the full forgiveness you give to my brothers and sisters as I am for my own salvation.
Thank you for not counting my sins against me, but for paying for every single one. You have made me overflow with gladness and praise.
“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” (Psalms 32:1)
I praise you, Father, for your unfailing grace and truth for my soul through Christ. In Your precious Son’s name, amen
remioyedele2015 on July 22, 2017 at 1:48 pm
Amen!!! Thank you so much, Sandy; what a beautiful prayer and reminder that we are ALL recipients of grace.
Be blessed,
Remi