Tuesday, December 3, 2019

The Names of God - Father of Mercies


Father of Mercies

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (ESV)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

One of the most dynamic actions humans can show is that of mercy. This is very different than love. Love is more of a relationship than an action. There certainly are “acts of love” that can be expressed, but mercy requires a deliberate decision. A situation is presented where you have the right, based on law, tradition, etc., to act in a certain way. However, in that moment you choose to put aside the punishment that is due and instead show mercy. You offer forgiveness instead of justice.

This is not in the basic nature of mankind. Mercy comes from the Father of Mercies. Mercy is not just something God gives on occasion; it is part of His very nature.

Some read passages of scripture, such as the “negotiating with Abraham over Sodom” (Genesis 18) or the “dealings of Moses with Pharaoh” (Exodus 7-11) and come away with the idea that “God changed His mind.” I do not believe this is the correct interpretation. I believe it was God showing mercy.

Do you remember the story of Jonah? If not, take time to read the short Book of Jonah in the Old Testament. After fleeing from the call of God, being thrown overboard from the ship, swallowed by a “great fish,” and finally going to Nineveh, Jonah made known his true reason for fleeing in the first place.

Jonah 4:1-2 (ESV)
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. And he prayed to the LORD and said, “O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.

“I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful…” This apparent “change of mind” God had was actually Him acting consistent with His nature. He is the Father of Mercies!

King David understood this well. “Then David said to Gad, ‘I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into the hand of man.’” (2 Samuel 24:14 ESV) He knew that man would exact justice; God would show mercy.

Jeremiah had firsthand knowledge of the Father of Mercies:

Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

As New Covenant Believers our ability to worship is found in the mercies of God.

Romans 12:1 (ESV)
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

The only way we can give ourselves completely to God in worship, as a living sacrifice, is to know that He can be trusted. He is the Father of Mercies! Get acquainted with this characteristic of our Father. He is good! His mercies never come to an end.

I know there are many who never received mercy from their earthly father. Because of this, it is difficult to relate to our Heavenly Father. All I can say is this: “Find a way!” Until we allow the Father of Mercies to manifest His work in us we will never fully express the nature of our God to our world. Here is Paul’s plea.

Colossians 3:12-13 (ESV)
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts (mercies), kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

The ability to show mercy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit in us. We cannot, of ourselves, show mercy. We must allow the Father of Mercies to lead us as we choose mercy over justice, grace over law, and love over hate. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we can now make these choices, and in so doing, show the Father to our world.

No comments: