As we anticipate the end-time, I am concerned that we do not become so bent on seeing judgments that we ignore an important aspect of God’s nature, which is His mercy. God, who is the Creator and Judge of all, has the option and ability to extend mercy to anyone, no matter how heinous the offense. We need to watch our reactions during these days lest we become unmerciful. Our prayer during this time must be that mercy will triumph over judgment.

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Show Notes:

As Christians, we can get the perspective that the cross of Christ and the mercies of God are reserved for Christians. But Christ died on the cross before we were Christians, even before we came into the world as those, like everyone else, who have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The mercy of God is what made the provision for us before we wanted it or asked for it or understood our need for it. That mercy is not limited to Christians. It is an open door for everyone. And that mercy will always be available.

Yeshua (Jesus) told a parable in which a king forgave a slave who owed him a large debt. This slave, however, refused to forgive the one who owed him a much smaller debt. The unforgiving slave was then severely punished by the king, and Yeshua said that God will treat us the same if we are unforgiving. As people who have been forgiven of our great debt through the cross of Christ, we must be careful of our reactions as we watch end-time events unfold. We may find the Lord bringing forgiveness and extending mercy to people who in our minds have no right to mercy.

What will our reactions be and how will our spirits respond when we see this mercy extended by the Lord? We should begin crying out to God that He works His mercy in our hearts now before we face days when our unforgiveness becomes something detrimental. As our Master, Lord, and King extends mercy, let us be enabled by Him to extend that same mercy to others. That is the way of the Body of Christ. It is the way that we who have received mercy are to live and act in this world. That is what will make us the light on the hill that people look to.

Key Verses:

• James 2:13. “Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
• Romans 5:10. “While we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son.”
• Matthew 5:7. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”
• Matthew 18:21-35. “My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”
• 1 Peter 1:3. “… who according to His great mercy …”
• Luke 6:35-37. “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
• Titus 3:3-7. “He saved us … according to His mercy.”
• Ephesians 2:1-10. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love.”
• 1 Peter 2:10. “You had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.”
• Romans 11:28-33. “God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.”
• Romans 9:13-15. “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.”
• Romans 9:21-24. “To make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy.”
• Ezekiel 39:25-29. “I will … have mercy on the whole house of Israel … for My holy name.”
• Habakkuk 3:2. “In wrath remember mercy.”
• Jude 21-24. “Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
• 2 Peter 3:9. “The Lord is … not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

Quotes:

• “We all start from the same place. We all have the same need. And God in His personality by His very nature is merciful, and therefore makes a provision for us that we do not end up in judgment.”
• “We must remember Him as the merciful Creator and that it is always within His ability and option to minister mercy and have that mercy triumph over whatever judgment is certainly deserved by many.”
• “If we want to receive mercy, if we have an understanding of mercy, it would be very wise that we become those who minister mercy.”

Takeaways:

1. When we think about the judgments of God in the end-time, we must remember that mercy is able to triumph over judgment. God can change things. No matter how much the punishment is deserved, God can come along with His mercy and remove judgment from the table.
2. The fact that we believed in Christ before others does not mean we can look at those we call sinners and assume that their actions are too great an offense for God to have mercy on them. The mercy of God is extended to all humanity through the cross of Christ and is available for everyone who will receive it. He died for you while you were a sinner and His enemy. Likewise, all humanity will receive the mercy of God.
3. What is God doing with the Jewish people? He is magnifying who He is and is explaining what He is to all the nations of the world. In this way all may see through the grace and mercy extended to Israel that everyone can enter in and receive the grace He is providing.