There’s an attitude in the world today that makes everybody want to claim their rights. Everybody says, “This is due to me, and that is due to me, and why didn’t I get that, and I ought to have this.” And with that attitude prevailing, it’s hard often for people to see that they need mercy. I thank God personally that since I came to know the Lord, nearly 40 years ago now, there is one thing I have never been in any doubt about: that I need God’s mercy. I’m clear about that no matter what situation I’m in. I can’t just trust in my rights. They’re not sufficient. I need God’s mercy.

It’s so important to see that. I’m reminded of a friend of mine, who’s in full time Christian ministry now, but once upon a time he was a traveling salesman and he had been driving rather recklessly and he had received several tickets for exceeding the speed and so on, and he had been summoned to the sheriff’s office. He went there with a terrible feeling that he was going to have his license suspended. Of course, that would have been very serious for him because he would have had no means of carrying on with his profession as a salesman. So he prepared what he was going to say and when he was summoned before the sheriff, he said this, “Sir, I’m not asking for justice. I’m asking for mercy.” And the sheriff replied, “No one has ever said that to me before.” And he was so taken aback that, though he gave him a severe warning, he permitted him to retain his license.

Well, those words have always stuck with me. I think when we come to God, we’d better come with that attitude: “I’m not asking for justice, I’m asking for mercy.” I believe that when we come with that attitude, God will never withhold His mercy. The only problem, the only reason why people don’t receive mercy is they don’t see their need of it.

The second thing we’re told to come for is grace. What is grace? Grace is what God will freely do for us beyond what we deserve. One essential thing about grace is it cannot be deserved. Secondly, the grace of God is supernatural. It goes beyond all the limits of our natural ability. It says we’re to come “in time of need.” I think that’s so important. Are you in a situation of need? Well, don’t let the devil fool you into thinking that it’s too desperate, and that it’s too late to come, and that there’s nothing you can do about it. God specifically invites you to come in time of need. So if you hear this message today and your situation is desperate, let me recommend this to you: that you come to God’s throne with confidence for these two things. First of all, mercy. Don’t ask for your rights because if you got your rights, you’d be shocked. What you really deserve, you don’t want. Secondly, come for grace. Don’t limit God to what He can do on your behalf. And don’t be put off by the fact that your situation is desperate. That’s just the time to come.

Finally, remember you’re coming to a throne. And on that throne is a king. And the king you’re coming to is the king of the universe. All authority and power, in heaven and on earth, is in His hands.

Well, our time is up for today. I’ll be back again tomorrow at this time. Tomorrow I’ll be explaining the fifth step to a good year.

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It’s good to be with you again as we draw near to the close of another week. I do trust that it’s been a good week for you and that you’ve been helped by the New Year resolutions from the epistle to the Hebrews that I’ve been sharing with you.

Twelve Steps to a Good Year

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