Exhorting by the Mercies of God

Exhorting by the Mercies of God

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

We see that it is by “the mercies of God” that we are able to receive exhortations. Without God’s mercy we would not have been able to hear—much less receive—exhortations.

In Romans 9:16 we read, “So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.” “Just as it is written: ‘God has given them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear . . . .’” Rom. 11:8.

This was the case with God’s people then, and it is the same with most of those who pray to God today as well. They do not see the value of being exhorted, and they cannot hear. That is why most religious meetings consist of entertainment—singing and music, polished sermons, storytelling, and theories in order to attract people. 2 Tim. 4:3-4. Those who love exhortations have received God’s mercy; they see how valuable they are, and their ears have been opened so they can hear. Since Paul understood that the Romans had received God’s mercy, he gave them forty-one exhortations in Chapter 12 alone! Think what mercy from God it is that we can see the value of these exhortations and have an ear to hear that we ourselves are in need of them!

To mention just a few: “Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God.” Imagine what an instrument you would thus be in God’s hand! “And do not be conformed to this world . . .” but “prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Think to be interested in proving what the will of God is in whatever you are doing (instead of doing things the way you are used to doing them, or the way it suits you best), on the basis of these three criteria: Is it good? Is it pleasing? Is it perfect? Imagine the spiritual growth and development you would have!

“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” Rom. 12:3. Here we see how careful Paul was not to go beyond the measure of faith he had received, and he exhorted the others not to think more highly of themselves than they ought to think. If we can hear this exhortation and see the glory of following it, how much competition will there be then, and who will then bear a grudge against another? We could keep on asking questions in a similar vein.

By the mercies of God they had received, Paul could continue to exhort the Romans in Chapters 13, 14, 15, and further. Just think about the glory we have come to—those who have received mercy—to be able to see this glory and hear that we need exhortations. Think of the growth and the development we will have! Heb. 10:23-25; 4:1, 3:12-15.