Mercy to Sinners

02/03/2021 | Mercy to Sinners

Did you know it brings glory to God when you seek his mercy? Nehemiah chapter 9 presents Israel’s repentance and request for mercy. In this chapter, we see the people have come together and they are praying, several of the Levites are praying, and they are reflecting on God’s glory and goodness and confessing their sins. In that confession of sin, they reflected on God’s mercy. For instance, in verse 28, Nehemiah wrote, “But after they had rest they did evil again before you, and you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so that they had dominion over them. Yet when they turned and cried to you, you heard from heaven, and many times you delivered them according to your mercies.” So we find out from this passage what mercy is. What is it? Well, Israel deserved to be punished, they deserved to be treated like every other nation, they deserved to be cast aside from God. And yet, when they turned to the Lord, what did they find? They found that God is infinitely, eternally, and unchangeably kind. Rather than repay them according to what they deserved, God gave them kindness.

That’s an important thing for you to reflect on. You and I are sinners. That’s the bottom line. We don’t have to be taught to sin. We just do it. Even though you are a sinner and you have sinned, sometimes grievously, horribly, you have never sinned so greatly as to be outside the reach of God’s mercy. It actually brings glory to him when you confess your sins to him and seek his mercy. He delights to show mercy to his people – its part of his character. He glories in showing mercy.

There’s another thing we ought to say, though. All mankind has benefitted from the mercy of God. In verse 33, Nehemiah wrote, “Yet you have been righteous in all that has come upon us, for you have dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly. ” They confessed there that nothing they have suffered has been undeserved. In fact, when we really stop and think about it, God doesn’t give us what we truly deserve. That is true as long as we live in this world. All mankind benefits from his mercy in this way. That makes sin all the more sinful. Do you see that? All those who reject Christ are rejecting him in light of his overwhelming kindness to them. It is as though they are looking into the face of a God who is ready to receive every repentant sinner and saying, “I reject your kindness.” Don’t do that. Brothers and sisters at this very moment God is ready and willing to receive every one of you who turns to him in repentance. He will forgive you in Christ Jesus. And, you will be met with the overwhelming mercy and kindness of God in Christ. I pray you will take this to heart today.

I look forward to worshipping with you on Sunday. Our sermon text will be Matthew 3:1-4 and we will reflect on the appearance of John the Baptist. May God bless you.