Day 183 - Psalm 103-105

ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 183 - Psalm 103-105 (Great is God's Mercy)
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       ^"The LORD is merciful and gracious, 
        Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. 
        He will not always strive with us, 
        Nor will He keep His anger forever. 
        He has not dealt with us according to our sins, 
        Nor punished us according to our iniquities. 
        For as the heavens are high above the earth, 
        So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; 
        As far as the east is from the west, 
        So far has He removed our transgressions from us. 
        As a father pities his children, 
        So the LORD pities those who fear Him."
        (Psalm 103:8-13) 

No person is so bad as to be beyond the reach of God's mercy.  That is the message of our text above. The Bible is full of testimonies of God's great mercy to forgive the worst of sinners.  Below are just a few of those whom God had not only forgiven but used in a mighty way despite their grave sins so that God could show Himself gracious and merciful beyond human understanding:

Saul of Tarsus - Saul was a brilliant young Pharisee on his up the religious ladder.  In his zeal to destroy the newly-founded church of Christ in Jerusalem, he imprisoned the disciples and had Stephen stoned as he stood to watch.  He even went as far as Damascus to persecute the disciples there.  It was on the road to Damascus where Saul met the Lord Jesus and had his dramatic conversion.  God changed Saul's name to Paul and appointed him an apostle like the twelve who were with Jesus and used him to write 14 out of the 27 books of the New Testament.

David - God exalted the shepherd boy David to become the second king of Israel.  At the peak of his leadership, David committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband murdered to cover up his sin. God had every reason to depose David from his kingship and even kill him because of his sins but because David repented, God forgave him and still made him eternal prince of Israel and father to the Messiah.

Rahab the harlot - Rahab was a prostitute in Jericho before it was destroyed by Joshua and the Israelites. She was the one who hid the two spies sent by Joshua so that they weren't caught by their pursuers.  She later married one of the spies and bore a son named Boaz, who married Ruth from whose son, Obed, Jesse the father of David came, through whose line Jesus was born.

The thief on the cross - Moments before he asked Jesus to save his soul, the one thief on the cross was mocking Jesus along with the other criminal also hanging on the cross with him and Jesus yet Jesus promised the repentant thief,  "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise (Luke 23:43)."

I can go on and on with more examples of God's great mercy in forgiving sinners and even using them greatly after they surrendered their will to Him.  I would be amiss not to include myself among the sea of sinners whom God has mercifully forgiven.  I was disrepectful to my parents and siblings and lived only for myself and the pursuit of pleasure.  After I decided to follow Christ as my Lord and Savior, God, in His great mercy and grace, decided to call me as a pastor and teacher.  

Your life story can still be like that of David or Rahab or Saul if you put yourself into the merciful arms of God.  He promises to forgive all your sins as far as the east is from the west if you confess it to Him.  He is your Father who will have pity on you if you fear Him.