God of Mercy
The prophet Micah once asked a rhetorical question: “Who is a God like you…?”
The answer is—no one.
Micah is making a significant distinction among the nations of his day. Other religions and peoples worshiped all sorts of gods, none of which offered forgiveness of sins … but Micah’s God did.
Over and over God forgave the Israelite people, pardoning their idolatry and disobedience. And, He always provided a way for His people to be obedient and find forgiveness when they sinned against Him.
Today, this is still one of the unique distinctions between Christianity and other religions.
Through Jesus, Micah’s words, “You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy” have come to pass. No other world religion has a god who came to die for his people. No other religion offers us a restored, personal relationship with God through the sacrifice of God Himself.
Paul wrote in Romans—
“There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.”
Romans 3:23-25a ESV
According to the Christian faith, all have strayed from God and yet all have the chance to be brought back to God through Jesus.
Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice,and the ultimate show of mercy to a broken world. The Bible teaches that anyone who calls on the name of Jesus will be saved. So if you haven’t yet made the decision to trust in Jesus, consider calling on the One who delights in showing you mercy.
“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not....