The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Carri C. during the 2007-2008 League.
Biblical Report on "God's Mercy"
God, in the dictionary, is defined, "The supreme or almighty reality. The being perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness whom all people worship as creator and ruler of the universe." Jehovah, Almighty, Lord, and Deity are also defined in this way. Mercy is defined as, "A kind and gentle treatment of someone having no right to it." Other words related to Mercy are: Pity and Compassion "Sympathetic sorrow for one suffering, distressed or unhappy," Pardon "The excusing of an offense without penalty," Forgive "To stop feeling resentment against, to relieve a debtor of a duty to repay."
God's Mercy is very great. The Bible testifies over and over that He is a merciful God. Deuteronomy 4:31-"For the Lord your God is a merciful God." Daniel 9:9- "The Lord our God is a merciful God, even though we have rebelled against Him." Nehemiah 9:31-"But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a great and merciful God."
Without God's mercy we would all be lost sinners, looking for a purpose in life, 1 Peter 1:3,4-"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy, He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade - kept in Heaven for you." Ephesians 2:4,5-"But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions."
How do we receive God's mercy? Proverbs 28:13 tells us "He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy."
It was not our doing, being saved by grace, but by God's mercy. Romans 9:16-"It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy." Titus 3:5-"He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy."
And since God has shown us such great mercy, we ought to show mercy to others. Luke 6:36-"Be merciful. Just as your Father is merciful." Zechariah 7:9-"This is what the Lord Almighty says, 'administer true justice, show mercy and compassion to one another'" Matthew 5:7-"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy."
In our modern world, mercy is still here, but is slowly being forgotten. While some people are more than willing to give mercy to others, most think only of themselves and just want to get revenge. Some people accept God's mercy, are saved and happily live their life for Him, while many others shun His great mercy, renounce Him openly, and persecute others.
I plead with you, let us live our lives for Jesus. Let us show mercy and light to this dark world.
