June 18

1kings 19:1-21;acts 12:1-23;psalm 136:1-26;proverbs 17:14-15

Good morning!

“Who remembered us in our lowly state, for His mercy endures forever; and rescued us from our enemies, for His mercy endures forever.” ~Psalm 136:23 & 24
“Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever.” ~Psalm 136:26

You know, I can’t help but think that God is so much bigger and so much greater and so much more loving that we can even fathom! His mercy endures forever. There are two definitions for mercy according to Merriam-Webster’s that catch my attention. Mercy – compassion or forebearance shown especially to an offender or to one’s subject of one’s power / a blessing that is an act of “divine” favor or compassion. As subjects of a holy God, we certainly do offensive things from time to time. That’s a part of life. Think about the last time you offended God. Serious stuff and yet we take it so lightly sometimes and mutter our “I’m sorry’s” and keep on going. Despite our lowly state, God in His compassion reached down and rescued us from our enemies. Though we don’t have Jezebel’s and Herod’s chasing us down to kill us physically, we definitely have enemies pursuing us. Unseen enemies like anger & strife, lust & discontentment, pride & self-centeredness. The list goes on. Yet God grants us mercy not once, not twice, not 70x7. HIS mercy ENDURES forever. Endures means to undergo (as a hardship) especially without giving in or to remain firm under suffering or misfortune without yielding. Just as Jesus suffered on the cross once and for all and paid the price for our lives – our salvation, our healing, our peace – God’s mercy still endures to us each day. Despite our daily offences, God refuses to give in or give up on us. He refuses to yield to the sins in our lives and let them win! Instead He extends His amazing compassion & mercy to forgive us and draw us back close to Him. Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven!

Blessings,

Rolanda Green, Children's Minister