7 BUT if you had known what this means, ‘I DESIRE MERCY AND NOT SACRIFICE,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.
8 For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
Matthew 12:7,8 (NKJV)
"FOR I DESIRE MERCY AND NOT SACRIFICE, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings."
Hosea 6:6 (NKJV)
• If you are doing well according to the standards of Man or humans, do not mock, look down, on others.
- God has dealt with us individually according to His Mercy:
“I will sow her for Myself in the land. I WILL ALSO HAVE MERCY ON HER WHO HAD NOT OBTAINED MERCY; And I will say to those who were not My people, ‘You are My people,’ And they will say, ‘You are my God!’” (Hosea 2:23 AMP).
'SO you see, GOD CHOOSES TO SHOW MERCY TO SOME, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen" (Romans 9:18 NLT).
- Receive God's mercy according to the measure, or proportion, given to you.
- Appreciate God for what He has done for you, and be content with it (1 Timothy 6:6).
- God is not partial in dealing with His children: "FOR THERE IS NO PARTIALITY WITH GOD" (Romans 2:11 NKJV). He however has a purpose and an agenda for every individual who belongs to Him (Genesis 28:15).
• Note: God cannot make a mistake. And
He is not partial (Acts 10:34).
- God is faithful, truthful, and is of high integrity (Numbers 23:19).
- God is sincere in His dealings with all. He is open and transparent with all! Do not be offended in whatever God has given to you (Deuteronomy 10:17; Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11).
- He does know you, and your ability, more than you do know yourself. Whatever would be given to you, such would be according to your ability: "AND to one he gave FIVE talents, to another TWO, and to another ONE, TO EACH ACCORDING TO HIS OWN ABILITY; and immediately he went on a journey" (Matthew 25:15 NKJV).
READ: Romans 12:3,6 - Do not fight and be envious of someone else's greatness, success, or lifting.
- Relax and be content with God's Blessings in your life; home and ministry, no matter how little or big it may look like: "NOW GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS [a] GREAT GAIN" (1 Timothy 6:6 NKJV).
• If you are favoured! That is, If you are experiencing progress, know that you have simply received God's mercy, NOT because you are good or better than others!
- If you are more comfortable, your greatness or blessing surpasses that of others; It is because you have received God's mercy.
- Your achievements, attainments in life, are not because of your efforts, abilities, or POWER per se, but largely of mercy:
"THEREFORE, GOD'S CHOICE DOES NOT DEPEND ON A PERSON'S DESIRE OR EFFORT, BUT ON GOD'S MERCY" (Romans 9:16 GOD’S WORD Translation). - Mercy has nothing to do with hardworking. Mercy overrules every other spiritual LAW!
- Mercy supercedes all the laws made by God in His Kingdom (James 2:13).
- If you have received mercy, do not mock others. Do not feel big because you have received mercy!
- Know that it is not because you are qualified, or skilful!
- And also, it is not your cleverness, your brilliance, nor how intelligent you are, or your prowess, but God's mercy:
17 COMMAND those who ARE RICH IN THIS PRESENT AGE NOT TO BE HAUGHTY, nor to TRUST IN UNCERTAIN RICHES BUT IN THE LIVING GOD, who GIVES us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do GOOD, that they be RICH IN GOOD WORKS, READY TO GIVE, WILLING TO SHARE, 19 storing up for themselves A GOOD FOUNDATION for the time to come, THAT THEY MAY LAY HOLD ON ETERNAL LIFE" (1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NKJV).
• Consider and ponder on this Scripture in different translations:
"WHO SAYS THAT YOU ARE ANY BETTER THAN OTHER PEOPLE? What do you have that wasn’t given to you? IF YOU WERE GIVEN WHAT YOU HAVE, WHY ARE YOU BRAGGING AS IF IT WEREN'T A GIFT?"
1 Corinthians 4:7 (GOD’S WORD Translation)
"FOR WHO CONCEDES YOU SUPERIORITY? And what do you have that you did not RECEIVE? But if indeed you received it, WHY DO YOU BOAST AS IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE IT?"
1 Corinthians 4:7 (The Lexham English Bible)
"WHO SAYS YOU ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS? What do you have that was not given to you? AND IF IT WAS GIVEN TO YOU, WHY DO YOU BRAG AS IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE IT AS A GIFT?"
1 Corinthians 4:7 (New Century Version)
• God honours and does things according His plans, purposes—the way it was best known to Him.
- Therefore: "SO let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. THERE WE WILL RECEIVE HIS MERCY, AND WE WILL FIND GRACE TO HELP US WHEN WE NEED IT MOST" (Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV).
- Note: If it seems God's wrath is on your life, you could provoke God's mercy by keeping His commandments AND having love for Him and His Kingdom:
4 AND I [Daniel] prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and awesome God, WHO KEEPS HIS COVENANT AND MERCY WITH THOSE WHO LOVE HIM, AND WITH THOSE WHO KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. 18 O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; FOR WE DO NOT PRESENT OUR SUPPLICATIONS BEFORE YOU BECAUSE OF OUR RIGHTEOUS DEEDS, BUT BECAUSE OF YOUR GREAT MERCIES" (Daniel 9:4,18 (NKJV).
• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
- Should there be any sickness in your body, receive your healing now in Jesus' name.
- Whatever the devil has used to hold you bound on your health, such is broken now in Jesus' name.
- You are free, and never to be oppressed again in Jesus' name. Your deliverance is permanent in Jesus' name.
Peace!