[Dot: I decided to add Kim's devotion as well. Thought you might like to read this.]
"I am writing to Timothy, my true son in the faith. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace." 1 Timothy 1:2 "To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord." 2 Timothy 1:2
THEME: GRACE AND MERCY
THEME: GRACE AND MERCY
In
my head, grace and mercy were same things, but often wondered why use
two words, if they meant the same thing?? Of course, many of us adults
even have so many "why" questions like lots 3-5 years old kids would
come up w/ "why" questions!! Either i did not pursue to study between
those words, or i just went accepting those as same things. Then
somehow i had conversation w/ my older sister Linda, and later w/ my
younger brother Joey about those two things. How very blessed i went
after speaking and learning from them. I hope to share here with you
what would be my last Mold Me. That's right, u read right, this will be
my last one to share. I would like to read and study more of God's
Word throughout summer and rest of year.
Grace = getting what you don't deserve (ie: salvation) ex. Hug. Grace is extending kindness to the unworthy. Mercy = NOT getting what you deserve (ie: hell, punishment) ex. Spanking. Mercy is deliverance from judgment.
I
checked in commentary notes ---- mercy and grace are often confused.
While terms have similar meanings, grace and mercy are not the same.
Grace is God blessing us despite the fact that we do not deserve it.
Mercy is God NOT punishing us as our sins deserve.
I did find they can often be overlapped though, but here I try my best as I learned -----
Grace
is +, a POSITIVE thing that we don't deserve like a hug, forgiveness
(when rather deserved retaliation or hatred), free ice cream after we
have dropped an ice cream or all of a sudden given tickets to Disney
World because another family can't go. Or a free meal, because someone
else had paid for it for us, and we are puzzled!
Mercy
is -, being waived or pardoned of NEGATIVE things that we deserve like
speeding tickets or fines, prison time (ie: 30 year sentence served in
jail), or pay credit card fees (no mercy often by credit card
companies)! And we are waived of fees when we deserve even harsher
punishment like increased charges. Mercy is we are pardoned, and credit
card company says, "Okay, we have decided to waive you and you owe us
nothing". Or a bank says, "We have decided to cancel your owing, and
balance is ZERO". Or a policeman says, "Okay, i have decided not to
give you a ticket this time, you may go". Or a judge says, "You are
supposed to go to jail to serve one year, but i will let you go, so you
may be with your family, as your family needs you".
I
found a very few Scriptures with those things combined together. Here i
share because, wow, are not we fortunate to have God's grace and mercy.
I think we need to be reminded daily. How often and so easily i
forget. Notice they are books of 1 and 2 of Timothy, same chapter and
same verse! I think Apostle Paul who felt close to Timothy to consider
him his beloved son, wrote to not forget what Jesus Christ
offered------------GRACE, MERCY, (and PEACE)!!! So the Bible says those
who put their trust in Lord Jesus Christ are blessed so to taste those
things (Psalm 34: 8 O taste the Lord and see that He is good. Blessed
is the man that trusteth thee)!!
Dear Heavenly Father,
We
thank You for YOUR marvelous gifts ------ grace, mercy, and peace that
can only be found in Your Son Jesus Christ. We were unworthy, and yet
you came and provided us salvation. Your kindness and love and even You
remember our sins no more!!, that's called GRACE. And while we
deserved judgment, punishment, and hell, You provided deliverance -----a
way out, that's called MERCY. That's how we can be at peace with You.
Thank You again. Through Your Son we ask. Amen.