Is anything too hard for the LORD?» (Genesis 18:14).
Is anything too hard for the LORD?» (Genesis 18:14).
A crying woman came before the great French ruler Napoleon. «What is it you want?» he asked.
«It’s my son,» she said. «He has been convicted of a crime, and I beg his pardon from you.»
Napoleon conferred with his councilors, then spoke to the visitor. «This is your son’s second offense, and justice demands his death.»
«I know,» the mother cried. «My son has lived a sinful life. But I don’t plead for justice from you. I plead for mercy.»
The emperor shook his head. «But he doesn’t deserve mercy.»
«Sir,» the woman urged, «it would not be mercy if he deserved it.»
Napoleon smiled. «You speak wisely. Mercy is for the undeserving. He won’t be put to death.»
Did you catch the meaning in that story? Many juniors refuse to ask God for forgiveness for their sins because they think they’re too bad. «I’m terrible, and Jesus won’t ever want to be my Friend,» they say. «My heart is so full of evil thoughts and my hands are so busy doing evil things that God can’t have mercy on me.»
Want some good news? That’s exactly the type of person to whom God offers oceans of mercy. «Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts,» pleads Isaiah. «Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon» (Isaiah 55:7). Go ahead. Ask God for mercy and forgiveness. He’ll pardon you today.