DAILY ENCOUNTER

LEVERAGE ON MERCY

"So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy." Romans 9:16

Glory to God! Mercy is one of the greatest advantages we have as believers. There are things we could never accomplish by human strength, qualification, effort, or connections, but God’s mercy can make the difference. The word mercy speaks of God’s compassion, kindness, and undeserved favour towards us. Mercy is God choosing to show kindness where judgment could have been deserved. It is God intervening in our situation, not because we have earned it, but because of His loving-kindness. Every day we wake up, we are beneficiaries of God’s mercy. What then does it mean to leverage? To leverage means to use an available advantage or resource to produce a greater result. For example, a person may use a ladder to gain access to a higher place that he could not reach by simply jumping. The ladder becomes a means through which he takes advantage of what is available to him. Therefore, to leverage on the mercy of God means to recognise, depend upon, and properly respond to God’s mercy so that we can fulfil His purposes for our lives. Mercy does not mean we become passive. Rather, mercy gives us an advantage to do what God has called us to do. Apostle Paul understood this principle. He said, “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all” (1 Corinthians 15:10). Paul recognised that his results were connected to God’s grace, yet he did not become lazy because of it. He leveraged what God had given him. 

We must understand that mercy is not an excuse for irresponsibility; mercy is an opportunity for greater responsibility. How then do we leverage on the mercy of God? First, we must acknowledge that our lives and results are ultimately dependent on God. We can work hard and prepare diligently, but we must never forget the One who makes our efforts fruitful. Second, Mercy gives us another chance to do things according to God’s will, and we must maximise every opportunity Mercy provides. When God opens a door, we must walk through it. When He gives us strength, we must use it. When He gives us access, we must steward it. When He gives us another opportunity, we must not waste it. Yes! Mercy can be wasted. How do we avoid wasting the mercy of God? We must avoid taking God’s mercy for granted. Sometimes, because God does not immediately judge us for our mistakes, we may wrongly assume that our actions do not matter. But God’s patience is an invitation to repentance, not permission to continue in sin. We waste mercy when we receive another opportunity but refuse to change. We waste mercy when we receive divine opportunities but remain complacent. We waste mercy when we enjoy God’s blessings but refuse to fulfil His purpose. We waste mercy when we continually return to the very things from which God delivered us. We waste mercy when we use grace as an excuse for laziness instead of an empowerment for productivity. Use the mercy of God to work diligently, obey God wholeheartedly, and maximise every opportunity, not as an occasion to sin. Mercy has brought us this far, and mercy will take us further. But we must not waste the mercy we have received. Let us leverage on mercy today! Hallelujah!!!

FURTHER STUDY

Lamentations 3:22–23; 2 Corinthians 6:1; Romans 2:4

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What opportunity, strength, or advantage has God’s mercy given us that we must begin to maximise?
2. Are there areas where we are taking God’s mercy for granted instead of responding with obedience, diligence, and repentance?

PRAYERS

Father, thank You for Your mercy. Help us to maximise every opportunity You give us and never take Your mercy for granted in Jesus's name