Today's Post
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Mercy's Priority
September 15, 2026
Mercy’s Priority
I was reading the Bible this week. It was a wonderfully familiar verse that we all love.
"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen" (Romans 11:33-36 KJV)
I am sure that scripture brings back thoughts and inspirations to many. It certainly qualifies for the top fifty favorite passages in the Letter to the Romans. Obviously Paul is reflecting on the incomprehensible wisdom of God and so he closes chapter eleven with this glorious section. Reading it again caused me to think of the Isaiah passage.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isa. 55:8-9)
I believe both writers are celebrating the unsurpassable knowledge of God.
But as I read the entire chapter I was surprised to see the verses before these favorite words. Listen to these from Romans 11.
30 “For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained MERCY through their unbelief:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your MERCY they also may obtain MERCY.32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have MERCY upon all.”
As you can see the key word is MERCY and the theme of this closing section of chapter eleven is MERCY. In addition the first verse of chapter twelve carries the thought of MERCY on in another favorite scripture in Romans.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice…”
Here is the inspiration that struck me that morning reading Romans 11. This awesome passage of the wisdom of God is referring to His MERCY. Paul did not just ‘tack on’ these glorious words on the “depth of the riches of the knowledge of God.” He was writing about mercy and then he makes his most important declaration. MERCY is the heartbeat and soul of the knowledge and wisdom of God, and the unsearchable quality of his judgements and ways. Paul knows this is so contrary to the human understanding and he writes, “Who can know the mind of the Lord?
How significant is this?
I am writing an article on Christians judging to post soon. Culture has the perception that Christians are harsh, critical, and judgmental. It is as if the church feels it holds the responsibility to point out sins and failings. That is a shame since we are called to represent Jesus who was accepting and loving toward the lost and ostracized. Remember “For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:17) If we can get back to Jesus we will understand this MERCY that is the depth of God’s wisdom and ways.
I hear the voice of the old church sage reminding the flock, “It is the work of the Spirit to convict of sin.” (John 16:8) Yes, it is the calling of the followers of Christ to see the lost with compassion, serve the lost with love and grace, love the lost with the love of Jesus, and to walk in relations with the lost to come to Jesus. During this journey the Spirit will take care to do his part.
But this revelation also hits us personally. MERCY in love is the foundation of Jesus’ ministry. No matter what we encounter his attitude toward us is MERCY. This is a bedrock truth that the enemy always tries to steal or pervert. He wants us to feel shame, guilt, and unworthy so that he can steal our joy, peace, and assurance. Today let’s remind ourselves that the depth of the wisdom of God and the depth of his judgments and ways is MERCY. We are seen through eyes of compassion. We are loved. We are embraced. We are forgiven. We are his own.
Knowing these truths we walk in the world with the Jesus model before us, loving mercy.
