When We’re Humbled by God’s Mercy
Everyone felt it – especially the woman standing half-dressed before the condemning crowd. Her eyes frantically scanned every angle of the temple court, seeking an escape.
Even a passerby could sense the crowd’s impatience and eagerness to carry out “righteous judgment” by stoning the woman caught in adultery. She stood alone – her posture bent in shame, her eyes brimming with tears. She braced herself for the first stone.
But then …
“I don’t condemn you. Go and sin no more,” Jesus said after sending her accusers away to consider their own sinful history (see John 8:1–11).
Scripture doesn’t tell us what the woman did after her encounter with Jesus, but we can imagine. Although I’ve never committed adultery, I, too, have experienced God’s great mercy. Because of this, I love Him deeply.
Still, I fall short of this week’s verse:
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. (Deuteronomy 6:5 ESV)
I love the challenge this verse stirs within me. What would it be like to love God with every emotion, every thought and every ounce of my strength?
I’m confident that the woman mentioned earlier had no trouble loving God wholeheartedly. What if we recall times when we, too, have been humbled by God’s kindness? Would these memories stir within us a desire to love Him with our entire being?
Would you consider joining me in meditating on (and perhaps memorizing) Deuteronomy 6:5?
- How would it change our lives, our choices – even the way we respond to stress?
- How would applying Deuteronomy 6:5 change our hearts, our relationships?
- How would loving God with everything we’ve got change our prayer life?
Let’s ask God to help us love Him with our whole being because of Who He is (Almighty God) – and because of all the times His love gives rise to mercy.
This will not only bring our Father joy but also change us in ways we can only imagine. If we loved God with even a fraction of our entire being, we’d experience such an awareness of God’s love that it would shatter all shame from our past.
And this, dear reader, will give our Father even greater joy.
What about you?
I’d love to hear your thoughts about this post. (Your comment might also benefit others.)
- What would happen in your life if you loved God with this much intensity?
- What would change in your heart?
- How would it change the way you respond to stress?
- How would it change your prayer life? Your relationships?
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Thank you so much, Cheryl for your article, God has been very merciful and good to me
Good morning, Melanie! Amen!! God has shown me much mercy as well.
And as always, thank you for stopping by Today Can Be Different. I always love hearing from you.
How would it change each of us (you) if we loved God with everything we’ve got?
Another wonderful thought provoking message.
I do love the Lord with all my heart, with all my soul and with all my strength.
It’s incredible how my faith has grown and now I can’t imagine having Him with me throughout the day and night.
Amen!! Beautiful comment, Sandra. I’m glad we don’t have to imagine not having our Lord with us ‘throughout the day and night”!
When I think of all Jesus did for me and my sinful self, how could I not dedicate my life to loving Him with my whole heart, soul, mind and strength?! But we all fall short, and He still is full of mercy for us, because He loves us so much. It’s hard to fathom this kind of unconditional love; the closest we come is the love we have for our own children. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’” Mark 12:30. “I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify Your name forever.” Psalm 86:12. “For the choirmaster. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God. / My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When shall I come and appear in God’s presence?” Psalm 42:1-2. “GOD the Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like those of a deer; He makes me walk upon the heights! For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments.” Habakkuk 3:19. There was a time when I was consumed and seeking the Lord more fervently and prayed that I would never lose my zeal for Him. I’ll admit that I can become distracted and guilty with the business of life and not be as diligent as I once was in seeking after the Lord wholeheartedly as when I first came to know Him intimately. Thank you Sheryl for reminding us how important it is for us to seek Him first everyday!✝️️
Indeed! Imagine if we could truly grasp all that Jesus did for us, Kim. How much more it would drive us to love Him even more deeply!!
Every one of us can relate to your candid words about becoming distracted and not seeking our Lord as wholeheartedly. May we (even today) confess it and resolve to do better.
Thank you for stopping by again, Kim!
Great challenge! Because if we love God as intensely as He loves us, I don’t think we’d ever step outside of His will for our lives.
Hello, Helen! Wow!! You nailed it. Amen!