I have a good friend in jail right now. He needs grace and mercy. He would tell you he does not deserve grace or mercy, but this is what he needs.
I needed to write two “thank you” notes this week and the addresses were Gramercy Park Circle and Gracewood Park Drive. I started crying. To tell you the truth I’ve not cried too much lately, but these tears came because I realized something: I need grace and mercy.
One afternoon six years ago, God gave me a Scripture. I know it was God, because I remember it so clearly and because of what has taken place. “My grace is sufficient for you…” That evening I learned I had cancer. The rest of the verse says: “…for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Who can understand God’s ways? Paul continued, “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
When we realize we’ve been given grace and mercy there can be no boasting. I hope my friend gets out of jail this weekend. If he does, he’ll say it was by God’s grace and mercy. He won’t boast. He wants to be free from addictions that have nearly destroyed him. If he is weak in his own ability to overcome, he may find God is able to set him free.
I was addicted to tobacco once. I finally concluded there was no hope. Then a Chinese brother explained that when Jesus died, He took sin and my old self with Him. “For we know our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin – because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.” (see Rom 6:1-14) This revelation set me free. What mercy God has shown us through the sacrifice of His Son! What grace He offers! It almost sounds too good to be true… but that is what God asks of us – to believe it is true.
I want to thank so many who pray for me as I approach these next weeks. I don’t mind asking friends to pray that I have grace and mercy. Somehow God invites us to participate in His work through prayer. May we all trust His goodness and strength.
“And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.” Hebrews 11:32-34
“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16