Beseeched by Mercy

Romans 12:1,  “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God…”

Proverbs 20:28,  “Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.”                                                                                    Romans 14:4, “…to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.”

A person stands, is upheld, and his rational service is founded, in something he does not deserve.

Paul the Apostle beseeches men, by the mercies of God… William Newell comments, “We must believe that these divine mercies have persuasive powers over our wills.”

“It is not that we can move our own wills; but that faith in God’s mercies, personally shown us, has power.”

And these mercies are what?

An abbreviated list goes:

1. Justification:  pardon, removal of sins, trespasses never reckoned, a standing in Christ, made the righteousness of God in Him.
2. In Christ: taken out of Adam by death with Christ.
3. Under grace, not law: Fruit unto God, unto sanctification made possible.
4. Spirit indwelling: No condemnation, Sonship, Heirship.
5. Help in infirmity.
6. Divine election, Romans 8:29-30
7. Coming glory
8. No separation from His love.
9. Confidence in God’s faithfulness.

All taken from “Romans verse by verse,” William Newell.

So, what is the beseech?

“present your bodies, a living sacrifice…  holy, acceptable to God…

“…in a believing view of God’s mercies, we find our hearts going forth.”

“…there is great drawing power in the knowledge that someone has loved us, and given us such Divine bounties as these mercies.” Newell

“Now if a man should present his body for the service of another, willingly, it would carry all the man with it.”

It is well pleasing to God, a holy,  acceptable sacrifice. In contrast with those slain offerings Israel brought to God; God’s service is freedom and not slavery; life, not death.

It is a spiritual service, not an outward religious one.

“Do not imitate the way of the world.” Lamsa translation, “philosophy, science, government, amusements, religion.” But:

Be changed, 2 Corinthians 3:18, be renewed, Ephesians 4:23, be transformed, Romans 12:2.

Metamorphosis ! — The emerging butterfly/resurrection effect of soul; reasoning, sensibilities, imagination, memory; the whole mind, is alluded to.

The whole sphere of conscious life!

Now we prove, “to find out by experience” the good, acceptable, perfect will of God. The right course of action!

As we surrender to Him, and are not conformed to this age, we discover His will. This is our consecration.

In closing, Hannah Whitall Smith, suffered from deep spiritual doubts in her early years. In 1858 she left the Quaker movement and committed her life to Christ. She eventually observed the founding of the “Keswick” convention which became a movement in which Amy Carmicheal would feel the call to the mission field.

In her book, “The Christians Secret of a Happy Life,” she tells of struggles with consecration, (Romans 12:1-2). She teaches to “take God’s side in the matter… putting faith before feeling.””Recognize, “when you give yourself to God, He accepts you, and at once let your faith take hold of this fact.”

Maybe, “you have given yourself to Him over and over daily, perhaps for months, but you have come away…wondering whether you have given yourself at all, and whether He has taken you. You conclude that the thing has not been done.””…you have not felt any change.”

“…dear believer, that sort of perplexity will last forever, unless you cut it short by faith.”

Friends, our faith works by love, so says Galatians 5:6. If we leave out His tender mercies, forsake grace, we find ourselves left with little desire for surrender, and little assurance; which faith is!  Needed for all proving of God’s will; never forget the “mercies.” love ya

• I have a heart that cries to God
• abandonedly across the blind
• Imperfect Avenue of mind
• I have a heart that cries to God.
• I have a heart that cries to God
• across the quarried stones of thought,
• the labored temple slowly wrought
• A heart, a heart that cries to God
• I have a heart that cries to God
• Immediately and must dispense
• With faltering through the world of sense,
• And calls across the mind to God.
• That calls across the worlds to God,
• Nor stays to elaborate the tongue
• Of sacrament too slowly wrung,
• I have a heart that cries to God.          Amos Wilder