Mercy Came Running

Daily Reading: James 2

Scripture Focus: Mercy triumphs over judgment. (James 2.13)

Devotional Thought: Often, James is considered as one who values deeds above faith, or at least on an equal footing with faith.  But, what he says in verse 13, illuminates his attitude about this. Before James ever deals with faith versus deeds, he lays to rest the argument that we have to live up to God’s laws in order to be saved from the judgment of God: Mercy triumphs over judgment!  It is only after the triumph of mercy, that we are able to live our lives in obedience to the law that gives freedom.

You and I deserve the condemnation of God.  But, Jesus Christ came to show us mercy.  He came to serve as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Because he gave his life as a ransom for you and me, we have peace with God.  When we receive the gift of life by faith, we are no longer under the condemnation of God: “If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1.9).  The devil may accuse us all he wants, but God’s justice yields to his mercy. 

I love these words from the Philips, Craig and Dean song, "Mercy Came Running":

“Mercy came running; Like a prisoner set free; Past all my failures; To the point of my need; When the sin that I carried; Was all I could see; And when I could not reach mercy; Mercy came running to me.”

Run to the mercy that came running to you!

Prayer: Jesus, I thank you that your mercy forgives my sin and gives me a place in God's family.  Thank you for running to me when I could not reach you!  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 44.17-26

17 All this has come upon us, though we have not forgotten you, and we have not been false to your covenant.

18 Our heart has not turned back, nor have our steps departed from your way;

19 yet you have broken us in the place of jackals and covered us with the shadow of death.

20 If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god,

21 would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart.

22 Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.

23 Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever!

24 Why do you hide your face? Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?

25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust; our belly clings to the ground.

26 Rise up; come to our help! Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!