“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” It does not therefore depend on man’s effort, but on God’s mercy. ~Romans 9:15-16 (I encourage you to read all the way to the end of the chapter)
It took me a while to understand these verses. I always thought to myself; if God’s grace doesn’t depend on our efforts, why do we have to work so hard at living righteous and godly lives?
Who are we to question the reasons why God does the things he does? We can ask ourselves why God allowed Job to be tested the way he was if he led such a blameless life? We can also as why God chose to use Saul (aka Paul) who took joy in murdering Christians? Why?
I don’t have the answers, but one thing I do know is that God died for you and I on the cross of Calvary when he didn’t have to. We continue to sin and fall short of His glory, and we never question his motives for blessing us. But when something goes wrong, we are very quick to ask him why this and why that.
He does not owe you any explanations for doing the things he does, but on the Day of Judgment, he is going to question you, and what is your response going to be? When he asks you why you lied, cheated, stole, fornicated, etc, what are you going to answer? You owe him explanations, so why don’t you live your life in such a way that God would want to have mercy on you and show you compassion. He said in vs. 13 that “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” There was a reason why he loved Jacob over Esau; Jacob sought after righteousness.
I leave you with some questions. Why should God have mercy on you? Why should he show you compassion? Why would he say he loves you? Why?
Stay blessed and spread the word.
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WHY ?