SLAVES OR SERVANTS?

Psalms 103:11-12 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. (12) As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

We humans often offend each other. We hold grudges and want restitution. We demand the humiliation of the offender. Ironically, though we walk self-righteously toward those who offend us, we are not blameless ourselves. Mercy is a bridge we all need to cross; to ‘blow it up’ for others only works to our own disadvantage.

The distance between and earth and between East and West are the most extensive dimensions we can think of. Our finite and limited human mind can only speculate about their notions. God, the creator of the heavens, of the earth, and of the whole universe, knows these dimensions. He also knows that they are out of the realm of our human comprehension, and He uses them to tell us that His mercy towards us is grander than anything we can imagine. He can’t put a price on it; it cost His Son to give it to us, and who can price a life? All He asks for in return is that we fear Him: that we recognize Him as God, and that we reverence and give due respect to His commandments and His will in our lives. Who could refuse a God like that? Man tries to live by justice; but only God has the power to give true mercy.

It is ironic that man often refuses the free mercy of God, but will willingly accepts the costly ‘free’ offers of the devil. It is pride that makes us refuse what is freely given to us. We want to work for it, earn it, to deserve it, because it gives us an edge of control. The ultimate irony of that is that the industrial world is a society where the system of lending and interest, people accept to be lured into unnecessary indulgences which forever enslaves them to financial institutions, but yet in pride, refuse to be indebted to God and accept His free gift of mercy. They prefer to be the slaves of the world, than the voluntary servants of God.

We should not be afraid to throw ourselves at God’s mercy, to indebt ourselves to Him in respect and reverence. It only costs the yielding of our lives, only to receive the resurrected life of His Son in return.

Matthew 13:45-46 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: (46) Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.