Our Source of Hope

Encouragement can come from many sources, but the foundation of our strength and hope is always the unchangeable Word of God. For centuries, families have depended on the truth of Scripture to guide them in matters of faith, in the nuances of daily life, and during times of trouble. The Bible provides encouragement for the trials of today as we anticipate the joy of the hereafter.

The apostle Paul, no stranger to adversity, said to the Roman church, “Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4). David, one of the great heroes of the Bible, also faced many hardships – some of his own making. In these times of distress, he repeatedly turned to the Lord and His laws for deliverance: “May your love and your truth always protect me. For troubles without number surround me” (Psalm 40:11-12). The Psalms, in fact, are wonderful examples of praise and inspiration for moments of fear, insecurity, or doubt.

In our struggles as parents and as Christians, we would be wise to choose God’s Word as our first option for lifting our spirits. It contains the blessed hope that brings meaning to every thought and every moment.

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Thought for the Week:

Mercy Compared to Forgiveness, Love, and Grace

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Matthew 5:7

To understand the significance of mercy, let’s compare it to three amazing attributes of God. First, mercy has much in common with forgiveness, although it is distinct from it. God’s forgiveness of our sins flow from His mercy. But mercy is greater than forgiveness, because God is merciful to us even when we do not sin, just as we can be merciful to those who have never done anything against us. God’s mercy does not just forgive our transgressions but reaches to all weaknesses and needs.

Just as forgiveness flows out of mercy, mercy flows out of love. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (Eph.2:4-5). Love is greater than mercy – it can manifest itself even when there is no wrong to forgive or need to meet.

Finally, mercy is also related to grace, which flows out of love. Grace and mercy have the closest possible relationship, yet they are different. Mercy deals with the consequences of sin, while grace deals with sin itself. Mercy offers relief from punishment, grace offers pardon for the crime.

Just look at what the Good Samaritian did. When he found a Jewish traveler who had been robbed and beaten, he held no animosity toward him. Love motivated him to show the man mercy when he bound up his wounds. And when he took him to an inn and cared for him, he showed grace. Such is the expression of mercy working with forgiveness, love and grace.

Ask yourself: Is there someone to whom you need to show God’s mercy, expressed through your love, your grace, our forgiveness? Think of how you can turn your merciful intentions into practical action

Taken from Grace for Today

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