When you think of the mercy of God, what do you think? His mercy is His willingness to show kindness, and favor because He has compassion and pities us for our position, our ignorance, and our need. Men have lofty opinions of their position and condition in this world, and foolishly think to satisfy their needs with the things of this world, which never works. They end up frustrated for all their efforts and wondering why there is always an emptiness inside, no matter what they try fill it with.

Pro 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

Truth is stability, it is a certain knowledge one knows they can be sure of and depend on. It is the foundation of their existence. There are different perceptions of truth. Some "think they know" what truth is. They have "learned" what they perceive as truth over the course of their lives, from their parents, from their school, and some even from clergy or religious professors. Some have learned their perceived 'truth' from reading books written by other men and women, and some have learned it from their experiences in life. All of these truths can be challenged. But there is one Truth, that though challenged, will meet that challenge head on and never be moved or shaken. It does not change, cannot be bribed, and is no respect of persons. That is Jesus Christ. He is THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Life. Without Him, we walk in darkness, never sure of where we are going, because we are dead in our sins and have no direction, and no truth. I'm not talking about facts you learn in school, such as math principles or equations, or sentence structure. Much of history has been rewritten and changed because the truth was no longer 'politically correct' nor did it fit with modern man's agenda of tolerance of everything except what is right. Today in the world, many, especially in the media, and liberal circles, or social circles, regardless of politics, when they think of the word "Right" they equate it with politics of "right wing conservative religious groups" that want to shove their ideology down people's throats. Religion is just as deadly as terrorism, drugs, and hate. There is no life in religion. So what does this Scripture mean?

It was the compassion and great love of God for His creation, His offspring, made in His image, who had so gone astray, that He had to take His Word and wrap it in flesh and send it into this world to be a sacrificial lamb for the sins of the world to reconcile us to Himself once again. Through faith, and receiving, embracing and yielding to the work of the cross of Jesus Christ, the cleansing of His blood, and the atonement of Himself for our sins, iniquity is purged-or washed away. But what about the second half of that verse? If you have a reverence for the Lord, for His holiness, you must have an understanding of who He is, you must be acquainted with Him yourself. You can't just say, I fear God, and continue living the way you do. Then again fear of God is relative to what and how well you know Him. If you understand and truly believe He is a holy God that has to and will judge sin, and that you will give account for your sins, you will not be able to easily continue in what you know is wrong. But to know HIM is to love HIM and when you love someone, especially like God, you will not want to wound Him or separate yourself from Him and you understand that willful sin and disobedience will definitely separate you from Him.

2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

1Co 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

2Ti 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

When we examine, and check ourselves, and see if what we believe is what the Bible says is right, what do we see? We study the Word and look into the Mirror of God's Word, does it approve the life we are living? What do we see reflected back at us? It is the image of Christ being formed in us, or is it much too much of us, ourselves and flesh? We have all fallen short of the glory of God. Can we face it and agree with God it isn't right?

Amo 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

The adversary of our souls wants to convince us we are not worthy, and indeed we aren't. There is truly no good thing dwelling in our flesh. But we who are born of the Spirit of God have the King of Kings living inside us and that is another thing altogether. Christ in us is our hope of glory. He is our wisdom, our redemption, our life. He says we are the righteousness of God, through Him. His blood covers and cleanses us as we walk with Him. But we can't walk with Him unless we agree with HIM not the devil. In our own selves we can never be what God said we must be. God designed things so that would be totally impossible.

Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Yeah, right, easy for you to say, one might think. But consider this: We have a written account of how God has dealt with people in the past. We have information laid out for us how He deals with situations, and people.

1Co 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

We have a Holy Bible full of promises He has made regarding us. We have been given an invitation, we've received a call to come, and let Him live in us, and lead us and direct our lives in the way He sees fit, so we end up with Him, in Heaven, forever. The devil does not want us to succeed in this. He tries to distract us, distress us, accuse us, weigh us down with lies and misleading information to throw us off track. He tries to tempt us into sin, and disobedience so God will have to judge us. The world and even our own flesh and carnal minds work against us. How can we possibly succeed? We think things like this, and we fret and get depressed, and if we do not turn to HIM, we will begin to despair. How many times have we tried in our own selves to stop doing something we know is wrong? How many times have we tried to change ourselves, only to end up frustrated, aggravated, discouraged and ready to give up in disgust? How many times have we felt hopeless, like it would never change, God's promises will never happen for us, oh, don't buy that lie of the devil. Don't. HERE is how you can see it change:

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Carefully examine this Scripture, and I must say THANK YOU, precious Holy Ghost for drawing my attention to this and dealing with me on it, I see a glorious, blessed HOPE, that on my own, I could never see. I've read this Scripture so many times, and never stopped to meditate or think about what glorious truth is right here before our eyes! How do we lay aside things that hinder us, and slow us down, when they are such a part of us? When they are so heavy on us we feel if we try to let go they will crush us before we can lay them off to the side?

Looking-oh, saints, savor that word, there is so much hope there, looking....when I turn my eyes away from myself, my flaws, my failures, which cause me to despair when I see them, and I begin to FIX them on JESUS CHRIST instead, on His glorious perfection, His righteousness, His strength, His power, and ability and I see His incredible love for me, and believe it, something changes!! I must as a child who beholds their parents, know, that He will fix it, and make it right. As I am beholding Him, whether through eyes of faith in prayer, or in the pages of His Word, I must consider His promises, His character and His nature. I must consider carefully that to doubt He will keep His promises, even under mental assault from His vicious enemy is to think Him a liar. To think this awesome God who spoke this world into existence, who spoke light itself into existence is unable to do what He said He would do for little old me, to think my problems are too big for this mighty and awesome One who inhabits eternity is a grievous insult to HIM whom my soul loves. I must see it in Truth, the right way. I need His Divine Help to see it right. He is the One who gave me the faith I have to believe Him unto salvation the day He saved my soul. He is the One who has ordained and ordered my steps along a spiritual journey, through a wilderness. He already knows there are pitfalls, traps, and snares of the enemy along the way. He has promised to secure and guide and direct and keep me, through faith, as I follow HIM. I must not try to go my own way on this journey. He has promised to send me a Comforter who will lead and strengthen and prepare me, and keep me along this way, and use me to draw others to follow Him, as I yield to Him. Then I too when I consider all this, and the glory and joy set before me, of being fully HIS, of being graced with His life, His love, and His help, want others around me to experience HIM, too. I want to see their lives changed and saved by Him and see them taste and see HE IS GOOD!! We must understand we will be met with scorn, ridicule, doubt, and unbelief of the enemy, and those he uses around us in this world to try to distract and persuade us away from Christ. We must resist Him in the Mighty Name of Jesus and press on and press in to our Lord. He alone is worthy of our lives. If we live our lives for ourselves, we will lose them. We perish. But if we give them wholly to the Lord and let Him have His way, He will secure us. We do not understand how to do this. That is why we must spend time alone with Him, in His Word, and on our knees to behold, to see Him, and learn Him, and understand as the Holy Ghost reveals Him to us. We must BE STILL and know-or understand He is God and what that means to our pitiful and pathetic hardships in comparison with His might and power. Hallelujah!!!!!! Glory to His holy name!!! Smile, church, I don't care how bad the world gets, HE already warned us it would happen, so don't let it surprise or overwhelm you! Run to Him! He says LOOK UP! can draw freely from His strength to continue on in this journey and stay faithful to Him until the end.

Isa 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

Don't look down. Don't let these things weigh you down in despair when you see yourself in light of His perfection as Isaiah did in Isaiah 6. Trust HIM!!!

Phi 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Psa 138:8 The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth forever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Rom 4:17 ... even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

The devil says we are unworthy. And we are. But GOD says our rightesousness is OF HIM. (Isa 54:17). Jesus Christ is ours. (1 Cor 1:30) so that is how we throw off the weights. His grace truly is sufficient and His strength is made perfect, in our weakness. He knew we were weak-He made us that way so we would depend on Him to do for us what we could not do for ourselves. When we look to Jesus instead of ourselves for help we will triumph, for He is our Victory. Hallelujah to the Lamb of God, saints!

Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

We must overcome the flesh, and how do we do that? When we gain a glimpse, an understanding of this glorious Christ, we will love Him so much we will despise anything which hinders us from His presence. It's easier to say no to something you despise. You will begin to recognize the enmity, the hostility of your own flesh to the plan and purposes of God. It's like an unruly child, seeking only it's own and immediate pleasure. There are times it must be denied, without mercy. To allow the flesh to express itself is to give place to the devil.

We must overcome the pull and draw of the world, and the pressure to conform to this ungodly society around us and measure up and live down to their standards.
We do that by the power of the Spirit of God in us-for He who loves God will not love the world. We will be as Abraham, admitted strangers in this world who are only passing through, trying to persuade others to come along, for we have a much better and eternal place to go.

We must overcome the devil, and his lies and temptations. We have the blood of Jesus Christ to shield and cover us. We have the Spirit of God to empower us. We have the written Word of God to feed, nurture and educate us. It is also our weapon, and when we mix the Word with prayer, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit of God we cannot be defeated. For it is not us that will be fighting, but God's Word, and God's Spirit, so how can there be defeat?

Rev 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Consider carefully that last verse and you will see why the devil wants you to be afraid, and doubt God, and be unwilling to be separate from the world. The Lord says come out from among them and be ye separate. We do not need the idols of this land, we have the Real Thing. We do not need the worldly wisdom of men, who look to flesh, that cannot save, we have true Wisdom, in the Son of God. We are called to be different, set apart for God. We were not made for hell, it was made for the devil and his angels that fell. Only God can open our eyes as we give Him time and seek His face and get in His presence and in His Word to see HIM, to behold HIM, and we will be amazed at how light our burdens will become when we see them in comparison with His glory, His vastness, His incomprehensible power. Glory to His Holy Name, GOD BLESS YOU!!!