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MERCY OUTWEIGHS JUDGEMENT (GENESIS 9:8-17)

REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “Mercy outweighs judgement” Mercy is compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm. Judgement, on the other hand, is a misfortune or calamity viewed as a divine punishment. Mercy outweighs judgment, which means God’s compassion supersedes His desire to see us suffer as a result of our disobedience or sin. We shall focus on the fact the mercy of God outweighs his judgement because He wants humanity to be saved and to have an eternal covenant with Him.

Beloved in the Lord, we clearly see that God’s mercy outweighs His judgment because after He had destroyed the world with flood due to the disobedience of humanity, He again showed the world compassion by making a new covenant with Noah and his family. “Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: 9 “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth. ” 12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. (Genesis 9:8-13). Indeed, God’s mercy outweighs His judgement and it is not His desire or joy to see us perish in our sins. We are reminded of the fact that God’s mercy outweighs judgement and greatly admonished when prophet Ezekiel wrote “Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. 31 Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? 32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live! (Ezekiel 18:30-32). In other words, to experience the mercy of God we must repent and have a covenant relationship with God in the spirit of obedience to His Word or abiding by His will. It is for this reason Jesus admonished us, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21).

To further demonstrate to humanity that His mercy outweighs His judgment, assured us that “…God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17). Dear friend, I am happy to announce to you that we live in an era where God’s mercy is available to us so that we may be saved by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour while we are still alive. For we “… are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9:27-28) It is for this purpose Paul reminds us, “As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says, “In the time of my favour I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:1-2) To continue to experience the mercy of God and not incur His wrath and judgment, Paul’s words to the Roman Christians are worthy of consideration when he wrote “…I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2). Let us continue to remain in our covenant relationship with God, “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “Lamentations 3:22-23

In summary, we have discovered that the mercy of God outweighs his judgement because He wants humanity to be saved and to have an eternal covenant with Him.

PRAYER

Almighty God, may mercy abound in our lives even as we follow the perfect examples of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.