Devotionals

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Scripture

Proverbs 3:3-4 “Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.”

Observation

In this passage, King Solomon, the wisest man that ever lived on earth, shares with us that the key to finding favor with God and man is found through a heart full of mercy and truth. As I meditate upon this truth, I am reminded how people loved to be around Jesus, even despite the truth of their sin and shame. Jesus had favor with tax collectors, adulterers, drunkards, and even the righteous in their own sight because He embraced them in His unconditional love with mercy while at the same time never embracing their sin or condemning them in the truth of it. Instead, in His loving-kindness Jesus drew people into repentance and in His mercy He delivered them from the power of darkness and conveyed them into His kingdom where we all find redemption through His blood and the forgiveness of sins.

Application

To become more like Jesus, we must have a heart full of mercy and forgiveness because that is the heart of the Lord. Psalm 86:5 says, “For You Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.” When we keep mercy close to our hearts and shed it upon others through love and forgiveness, we find mercy with God for ourselves along with favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man. In addition to Proverbs 3:3-4 highlighted above, this is confirmed in the writing of James 2:13, “For judgement is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs judgement.”

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for showing me mercy through Your unconditional love, forgiving me for all of my sin against You, and remembering my sin no more. Help me to never forget Your loving-kindness and mercy towards me, despite the truth of my sin and shame, so that I may keep a humble heart full of Your love, mercy, and compassion towards others, despite the truth of their sin and shame as well. I love You Jesus! Amen!

Favor With God And Man Copyright 2010, Gary J. Borgstede. You have permission to reprint the personal devotion, Favor With God And Man, in its entirety only, and forward to your colleagues and friends, provided the copyright notice remains part of the reprint and transmission. All other rights reserved.

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