Glimpses of Truth

What We Need Most . . .

A very personal question would be, “How much do you owe?” or “How much do you own?”  If you own something, who gets the credit for it?

In the society in which we live, we are constantly told that we need something, we even when we do not.  Those who promote their merchandise are in the business of making money, and they have unique ways of telling us what we need, what we deserve.

I was reminded the other day that all of us need mercy.  I read about a lady who stormed into the photography studio with a set of proofs and declared indignantly that they didn’t do her justice.  Looking her full in the face, the man behind the counter remarked, “Lady, you don’t need justice, you need mercy.”  You might say that was a tacky statement, but don’t we all?

I’m very grateful that there are many people down through the years who have acted graciously toward me:  my parents, my teachers, my wife, my employers, my friends.  Generally speaking, they have all treated me with lovingkindness rather than harsh justice.

If we must have mercy from our fellowman, how much more we need it from God.  The words of Psalm 130:3 should continually echo in our hearts:  “If thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?”  How glad I am that He keeps on forgetting and forgiving!

We all need His mercy.  In Lamentations 3:22, “It’s because of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, but his compassions fail not.”  When we receive Christ, we can do nothing but rely upon His grace.  When He accepted me as His child, it was just the beginning of His goodness and favor that He has continued to shower upon me ever since.

What do I owe?  I owe it all to Him.  What do I possess?  I possess only that which He has given to me.

Have you acknowledged that you owe everything to God?  Have you thanked Him for His kindly forbearance in forgiving you again, and again, and again?  You should, because we all need His mercy.