INTRODUCTION

Man’s natural reaction is almost always akin to that of Cain, when he said, "My punishment is greater than I can bear" (Genesis 4:13And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.
See All...). Any honest person, however, would have to confess with the sweet psalmist of Israel that God "hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities" (Psalm 103:10He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
See All...). Truth is, every man deserves hell. "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
See All...). "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way;" yet "the LORD hath laid on him [Christ] the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
See All...). Truly men have been made partakers, undeservedly so, of God’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For smaller children) Paul knew he deserved hell and that God's mercy and grace saved him (1 Timothy 1:13-16 [13] Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. [14] And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. [15] This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. [16] Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
  See All...; Titus 3:5-7 [5] Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; [6] Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; [7] That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
  See All...). Without mercy and grace, we have no hope (Psalm 130:3If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
  See All...; Ezra 9;13; Nehemiah 9:31Nevertheless for thy great mercies' sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God.
  See All...; Lamentations 3:22-23 [22] It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. [23] They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
  See All...; Hebrews 2:1-3 [1] Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. [2] For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; [3] How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
  See All...).
• Have you been made a partaker of God’s wrath or God’s grace? Why? What do you deserve? What would happen if God judged you according to your sins? Would He be just in doing so?
• Read Ephesians 1:7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
  See All.... Instead of dealing with you according to your sins, God has dealt with you "according to the riches of his grace." When is the last time you thanked Him for it?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Thank God for His marvelous grace.
• Ask God to continually remind you of His goodness toward you.

HYMN

Grace Greater Than Our Sin

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