"Who am I, 0 Sovereign LORD... that You have brought me this far?

2 Samuel 7:18.

"Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart." 2Corinth. 4:1.

Many things, both good and bad, times of joy and sorrow, moments of excitement and exhaustion come to our minds as we look back into the year that has just gone by. And when I think of those unfortunate ones who could not enter into the New Year, one thing comes to my mind. I.e. the mercy of God! Yes, it is by His mercy that I am what I am and the ministry hitherto. Hallelujah!

I am constantly reminded of my utter unworthiness, inability and weakness to be of any value or use for the Master's work, but for His mercy! Praise God!

Mercy is the unmerited favour of God to an unworthy person. So then in speaking here of mercy. Paul is pointing out the fact that we are totally unworthy of God's favour - yet it is to us. He has extended the privilege of a divine ministry, not because we have responded to the grace of God but because we are objects the divine mercy. Hallelujah!

As we study the Word of God, we can not help but be struck by the fact that one of the greatest dangers to those whom God has called to a special ministry is their forgetting they were objects of mercy. When they forget where they were found by the mercy of God, and the pit from which they were rescued, they blunder most grievously. E.g. David, in all the glory of his position, forgot that he had been a man picked up from hoarding sheep by the mercy of God and elevated to the rulership of Israel. He betrayed the confidence placed in him and thereby disqualified him for the sacred ministry to which God had appointed him. Israelis sad failures can be traced to the same root problem. Again and again they forgot what they were when God called them and brought them into a special relationship with Himself so as to manifest His glory through them to the world. They forgot that they were objects of mercy. Yes, we are suitable or acceptable for the Christian service in so far as we remind ourselves that we have been called into that privileged position by the mercy of God. This mercy also keeps us from becoming despondent through fear and from growing weary in our work as we depend upon the mercy of God day by day.

"THROUGH MANY DANGERS, TOILS AND SNARES I HAVE ALREADY COME, T'WAS GRACE THAT BROUGHT ME SAFE THUS FAR AND GRACE WILL TAKE ME HOME.' Amen!

TODAY

"NOW it Is high time to awake out of sleep" (Ron. 13:11)

"So go work TODAY in My vineyard" (Matt. 21:28)

"Enquire at the word of the Lord TODAY" (I Kings 22:5)

"Exhort one another while it is called TODAY."

"I set before thee THIS DAY, life and death" (Deut. 30:15)

"NOW is the day of salvation" (II Cor. 6:2)

"TODAY if ye will hear His voice" (Heb. 3:7)

"Choose ye THIS DAY whom ye will serve" (Josh, 24:15)

"TODAY will the Lord appear to you" (Lev. 9:4)