December 2, 2010 A Strange Combination

A Strange Combination

Day 17: Luke 1:50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.

“MERCY” and “fear” don’t seem to go together, do they? Wouldn’t it make more sense if Mary said “mercy’ and “love”? How does mercy extend to those who fear God?
Have you ever had an argument with your dad against something he wanted you to do with him? Who won? Did you walk away satisfied you got your point across? Did he walk away thinking, “My child does not respect me.” Who won?
You didn’t. Oh, you may think you did, but you didn’t. You got your way, but you lost a part of your relationship with your father. You showed no respect, no “fear” for his authority and position as head of your family. And he wondered, “Does my child love me?”
This type of relationship with your father continued for years. You obeyed him only when it was convenient for you. Then one day you got into trouble. “Dad, can I have some money to fix my car?” His response surprised you. “No, my child, you have rejected me too many times. You show me no respect when I ask for your obedience. You will have to solve your problem on your own.”
Dad is out of mercy for you, his wayward child. He asked repeatedly for you to obey him. But you said, “No.” This is what happened with the Hebrews repeatedly as God called them to obey. When they kept refusing, he removed himself from their presence, and they suffered horribly. But when God’s children called on him, obeyed his laws and feared his ways, he showed them great mercy.
Fear God. He is absolute over your life. He will leave you if you ignore him. He will punish you if you disobey him. He will be merciful to you if you obey him. Fear of God leads to mercy from God.


Pause and Consider: God wants your fear. He wants to shower you with his mercy.

The Evidence of Faith
Read Hebrews 10 - 12

Heb 11:39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.

READ HEBREWS 11, and you’ll see who “these” were. They were the great men and women of faith in the Old Testament. They were the ones whom God used to make his name known, to advance his kingdom and to tell of the coming Savior.
These great followers of God believed in God’s promise that he would send a Messiah. They had no proof that he would. They had no evidence of a child born in a manger who grew to become a great rabbi and died on a cross. They had no evidence of a resurrected Lord Jesus.
We have this evidence, and there is an historical basis for believing that Jesus will come again. But the people of old did not have that evidence. They only had their faith. That is why Hebrews focuses on faith as a key element of our relationship with God. The great names of the Old Testament had that faith, and God counted them as his because of their faith.
How much easier is it for us to have faith than they? It is very much easier. We have hindsight on the Son of God become Son of Man, who forgives all sin.
They had only God’s promises. They were faithful.
Are you wondering if God is truly real in your life? Then look to the bible. Know the evidence. Be a person who trusts God to make his promises come true. He will. He always has.


Pause and Consider: the evidence of your faith.