God Delights to Show Mercy

Micah 7:18
Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.

Who is a God like Him, indeed, there is none. Not around us, not within us, can we find anything even close to that which is our God. He pardons our sin and transgressions - even the most heinous of crimes, He can forgive! If you’re anything like me, that brings relief, with more than a little raising of the eyebrows. "If God knows what I’ve done in my life, then there surely can’t be any forgiveness for me." Well, take it from one who knows - I’ve made some pretty big mistakes, and yet God has forgiven me and continues to pour out His love and mercy on me each and every day, as there is not a day that goes by that I don’t make some sort of mistake.

Does He get angry at this sin, this transgression against Him? Of course - He is love, and He is forgiving, but He is also righteous, and He is just, and holy. He does not like any unrighteousness, so that is why He sent Christ. Christ alone can purify us and make us clean so that we may commune with this holy and righteous God. Christ alone is the answer to all the yuck in our lives - whether it is a result of our own choices or someone else’s, God provides a glorious answer in Christ. I cannot even express in words the difference Christ has made in my life, but if you don’t believe me, just ask my friends and family!

This passage tells us that God does not remain angry forever, but that He delights to show us mercy. That is my favorite part! We do not have to go to the foot of His throne begging for mercy, as though He is a dictator handing out paltry amounts of mercy here and there. We do not have to twist His arm. On the other hand, He does not have to give us mercy - He is God and can do what He wants to do. Mercy is His to give as He so choose. And He does choose to pour out His mercy upon us. It gives Him pleasure and delight to give us His mercy! He is asking us to reach out to Him, and receive this thick, abundant mercy. Isn’t that amazing? I am continually amazed that the God of this universe, Creator of all things, thinks specifically on me and specifically on you, each and every day, pouring out more mercy than we could ever imagine!

Let’s go to His throne today and let Him pour out His mercy upon us, and then, let’s allow that mercy to work in us and change us. It gives Him pleasure when we come to Him with our problems and mistakes. We are not putting Him out, we are making Him happy! So, let’s each make God’s day today and give Him all our hurts, replacing them with His great love and compassion.