St Peters RC Church Hamilton

“Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving.” (Psalm 95 v 2)

Mercy is God with me,

And recognisably at that,

Through love manifest in Jesus,

At the touch of the Spirit of holiness.

Of all that is necessary in life,

A knowledge and experience of God’s presence,

Is foremost, uppermost, essential, most urgent,

Being full of good potential,

All that we cannot believe,

Or will not achieve off our own back.

“Understand, you senseless among the people; and you fools, when will you be wise? ...He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct, He who teaches man knowledge? The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile.” (Psalm 94 v 8, 10, 11)

For we lack the means in ourselves,

But all is changed however, due to a Saviour.

Jesus comes to us in the Spirit,

That we may experience fullness of life now,

Here on this earth in the kingdom,

The love of God gave birth to,

Then eventually as we reach our heavenly destiny.

Mercy is a most marvellous work of holy kindness,

God’s selflessness put into action as an attraction.

Mercy invites us to worship through Jesus.

“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.” (Psalm 95 v 6, 7)

“You who love the LORD, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints. He delivers them out of the land of the wicked.” (Psalm 97 v 10)

Dearest Father, daily we should enter Your presence with thanksgiving, for there is so much knowledge and experience provided by You which fills our life with the soundest elements of hope, peace and joy, as the result of Your merciful love.

What affection You show towards us to cherish us! We must lift up our hearts, minds, will, conscience, imagination in due praise of You. How wonderful that this delights You.

“Whoever offers praise glorifies Me and to him (her) who orders his (her) conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.” (Psalm 50 v 23) What a privileged experience, thank You.

You make this possible in Jesus, the living Word of Your truth, He who saves us from the judgment and punishment due to us. Thank You for our knowledge of the †.

Jesus, our praise and worship in honour of You, Father, “...who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness...” (1 Peter 2 v 24)

Sadly, tragically in fact, we “...were like sheep going astray...” (v 25) but mercifully You rectified this, Your Spirit calling us back “...to the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls.” (based on v 25)

The implications are profound indeed. It is indeed right to give thanks to You as Your mercy endures through the redemptive work of Jesus. “Let those who fear You, Father, now say ‘Your mercy endures forever.”

(based on Psalm 118 v 4)

Knowledge and experience in faith teaches us much. “I called on You, LORD, in distress; You anointed me and set me in a broad place,” (based on Psalm 118 v 19) thankfully. “Open to me the gates of righteousness, I will go through them, and I will praise You, LORD” (Cont) today, each day and eternally, praising You for Your everlasting mercy which actually knows no limits. We realise this through Jesus. Thank You. Amen.

KNOWLEDGE