But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us. — Ephesians 2:4
Not long ago, my family and I were out in a store, and my son began misbehaving as children often do. He was bored, and I remember those days from when I was younger myself. I would often get bored in a store and act out time and again, causing my parents to tell me to straighten up. This time, I found myself on the side of the parent and having to tell my son to straighten up.
But he didn’t. I would tell him to stop doing what he was doing and to listen, and he would stop for a few minutes. Soon, he was misbehaving once again. It wasn’t long until I had enough. I grabbed his hand, and we went to the car so my wife could finish shopping.
He was given multiple opportunities to listen. I said what I expected him to do. He knew that he should be listening, but he chose not to. Now, he was sitting in the car, unable to look at the toys and games. As a parent, we use these opportunities to hope that our children will learn from them.
It is the same situation with God. I love the statement by Paul here about God. He says that God is “rich in mercy.” In other words, God has an extra large supply of compassion for us. There have been many times in my life I have needed that compassion, too!
Time and again, I have failed to listen and do what God would have me to do. Yet, He still loves me and has mercy on me. Through all the difficult lessons I have learned and through all my disobedience, God still loves me. He still has mercy for me!
Do you ever feel like you have done something that God could never forgive? Do you ever wonder why God isn’t so frustrated with you that He just gives up? It is because God is rich in mercy! Today, take a moment to praise God for His mercy and compassion for you. He’s been better to us all than we ever deserved.
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