Expect to see brand new mercies!
It was the worst possible time for something like that to happen. I was sitting on the side of the road, trying hard not to panic. I was scheduled to sing at my younger sister’s wedding that Saturday afternoon.
The whole day had been pretty crazy, honestly. I had a million things to do, including the bride’s makeup. By the time I got to her house, I was already running behind schedule. Still, things went well, and she looked even more beautiful than she already does every day.
After finishing her face, with only 45 minutes to spare before the wedding, I flew out the door, took a wrong turn, ended up miles away from home, with no gas, and no money to pay toll.
You know why?
Because I had forgotten my purse at home with all my money in it. So there I am, the wedding singer, stranded on the side of the road thinking, God, please say this isn't happening!
But it was happening alright, and there wasn't a thing I could do about it.
To make a long story short, my brother came to rescue me. I never did make it home to get dressed. My sister bawled her eyes out and insisted that I come to the wedding in what I had on. There was no way she was letting me miss that. And who can say no to a distraught bride, right? I didn't want to ruin her special day.
Like a scene straight out of a nightmare, I entered the beautifully decorated, jam-packed church, in the same leggings and makeup-stained tee I’d been wearing all morning. The wonderfully dressed wedding guests must have thought I’d lost my mind. I slid onto a keyboard bench off to the side wishing I could disappear, and sang for my baby sister while sitting down.
She was happy I made it, even if I looked an utter and complete mess. The song turned out well, however, and I was able to change into something much nicer for the reception. Had it not been for my big brother, I would have been in big trouble. He came and saved the day!
This makes me think about Jesus and how He saved the day in a much more significant way. Were it not for Him, our Savior, we would never have been able to pay the debt of sin we owed, nor ever be fit for the Kingdom of heaven.
“God’s abundant grace on your life makes the impossible possible for you. He spares no expense when showering those He loves with blessings!”
Earlier today, I was reading Matthew 18:23-35. In this passage, Jesus shared a parable about a king who wanted his servants to pay him what they owed. There was one man that owed ten thousand bags of gold.
Unfortunately, the servant couldn’t pay the enormous debt, so the master ordered that he and his wife, his children, and all his possessions, be sold to repay the debt.
Yikes!
Understandably, the servant begged and pleaded for mercy. Verse 27 says, “The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.”
This parable does not end here. It’s about the importance of freely giving the forgiveness we have received from God back to others. For the purpose of this devotion, however, I want to focus specifically on the fact that the merciful king canceled the servant’s debt.
This is exactly what Jesus did for us on Calvary when He took our place and died for our sins. Thankfully, that grace didn’t end on the cross.
Jesus still shows grace to us today. He cancels our debts; gives new mercies daily that we cannot afford; makes ways we cannot see; opens doors we aren’t qualified to walk through; heals diseases that should cut our lives short; and blesses us over and over again.
This year, you will continue to see the brand new mercies of God at work in your life. You will witness His grace being expressed in new ways. He’s going to do things for you that you can’t do on your own. Expect great things.
You have been praying and asking Him to help you. You have been trusting in His word, yielding to Him, and placing your hope in Him. You have been calling upon Him and diligently seeking Him. He’s going to reward you for that, just as Hebrews 11:6 promises He will. He’s going to show you the kind of amazing grace that delivers, restores, heals, increases, renews, and makes all things new.
Hebrews 4:16 ESV, which is what I’m stirring into your cup of inspiration, says, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
As you drink down the contents of your cup, expect God to extend His inexhaustible supply of grace, mercy, and favor to you. Draw nigh to Him. He loves blessing you and showering you with His love. And that’s exactly what He’s going to do all year long.
Prepare for it.
Now let’s pray.
God, I thank You for your favor and mercy toward me. I open my heart to receive all the good things You will send my way. With gratitude, I praise Your great name in advance. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
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