Receiving Compassion - Protestant Caucus/Devotional

"You once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy" (1 Pet. 2:10). Because of God’s compassion, He withholds the just punishment of your sin.

Hosea had a unique role among the prophets. God used him and his adulterous wife, Gomer, as living illustrations of His love for unfaithful Israel. When Gomer gave birth to a daughter, the Lord told Hosea to name her Lo-ruhamah, which means "No mercy," because His mercy for Israel would soon come to an end. When Gomer later gave birth to a son, the Lord said to call him Lo-ammi, which means "Not mine," for He no longer considered Israel His people. Yet He offered this hope, saying, "It will come about that, in the place where it is said to them, 'You are not My people,' it will be said to them, 'You are the sons of the living God'" (Hos. 1:10).

In our Scripture for today, Peter applied that Old Testament text to the New Testament church, just as Paul did in Romans 9:25-26: "I will call those who were not My people, 'My people,' and her who was not beloved, 'Beloved.' And it shall be that in the place where it was said to them, 'You are not My people,' there they shall be called sons of the living God." God rejected unbelieving Israel, but extended His compassion to anyone willing to trust in Christ. It is particularly true that Gentiles in the church were once not the people of God, but now have received mercy and are God's beloved children.

God's mercy includes His general providential care for all mankind, but Hosea, Peter, and Paul were speaking of His special compassion—first in salvation, then in daily blessings—for those who belong to Him. By it He withholds the punishment we deserve for our sins and grants us His lovingkindness instead.

As you reflect on God's mercy in your own life, let Psalm 136:1 be the song of your heart: "O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever" (KJV).

What do these verses teach about God's mercy: Psalm 103:11, 2 Corinthians 1:3, and Titus 3:5?

Prayer For Justice And Peace

Eternal Father, You created us in Your own image and likeness, but sin has warped the minds of men, and throughout the world there is much injustice and much carelessness of the rights of other people and personal responsibility.

Lord, when You are excluded from the hearts and consciences of men, the inevitable result is that people suffer and Lord, there is much injustice and corruption taking place in our world today, not only in the lives of individuals but also in the corridors of power and the council rooms of many nations.

We pray Lord, that You will right all the wrongs that are taking place in our world and vindicate those that are being treated unjustly. Keep us Father, from trying to take matters into our own hands for vengeance is Your and You will repay. But Lord, in Your grace and mercy, we pray that you would give justice and peace to all those that have been cruelly and unfairly treated by their fellow man, and may the injustice and carelessness that they have had to endure be the means to draw them into Your saving arms of grace. We ask this in the precious name of the Lord Jesus,

Amen.

Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/prayer/prayer-for-justice-and-peace-724

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