Rich in Mercy
We love that God is sovereign and has full power to do the pleasure of His will. We love that God is wise and works and weaves all the threads for His perfect purpose. And in God’s omnipotence and omniscience He loves to display His mercy.
The great doxology–perhaps the greatest in all Scripture–at the end of Romans 11 bibrefromans11 ties a bow on the revelation of God’s work among Israel and the nations, and especially how God shows mercy to the disobedient. Many Jews disobeyed in order that the gospel mercies might go to the Gentiles, and the mercy shown to the Gentiles works toward future mercy to Jews. “For God has consigned all to disobedience, that He may have mercy on all” (Romans 11:32 bibrefromans11 bibrefromans11v32).
Remember back to Romans 9 bibrefromans9, and Paul’s explanation about God’s glory in election. “For (the LORD) says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’ So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy” (Romans 9:15-16 bibrefromans9 bibrefromans9v15 bibrefromans9v16). God is rich in mercy (see Ephesians 2:4 bibrefephesians2 bibrefephesians2v4).
So then, by the mercies of God present your bodies as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1 bibrefromans12 bibrefromans12v1).
If you fail to mediate on God’s mercy you will fail in worship, you will fail in obedient transformation, and you will fail in reflecting kindness and mercy to one another.