Text: Micah 7:18 - 19

Intro: We all delight in certain things. God is no different.

1. It can be difficult to understand.

• a. Even the apostles had questions. Matt 18:21.
• b. Today we are no different. Example of Christian woman who kept praying to be forgiven of the same sin.

2. What Keeps someone from accepting and enjoying Gods grace?

• a. Failure. Matt 11:28 - 30.
• b. Misunderstanding. It is the gift of God. Not based on our goodness. Ephesians 2: 4 - 9
• c. The right type of faith is found in James chapter 2 and Colossians 2:12 - 13

3. How does God respond to the Christian when we desire His mercy?

• a. He is faithful. 1 John 1:9
• b. Example of children who ran away. Father in the parable of the prodigal son.

4. What is God like toward the those who are lost?

• a. He allowed Christ to take our place. Romans 5:8
• b. Example of Auschwitz. A Sargent in the polish army imprisoned there was set to be executed by the Nazis yet when his name was called, another man came forward and requested to be put to death in the sergents place. The sergent was begging for mercy because he had a family. The other man felt compassion for him and saying, "take me instead, he is a better worker than I. Let me take his place." The sergent was allowed to step back in line and was able to go home after the war. The other prisoner was placed in a cell where he paitently waited to die the painful death of starvtion and exposure. Two weeks later he was dead. The sargent returned to his family because an innocent man took his place. Every August he returns to visit the place in memory of the one who died in his place. Are we any different? No. We are all condemned to die, yet an innocent man took our place.

Closing: Have you come to trust the God who delights in mercy? Are you trusting in yourself to be saved? What would it take for you to accept this priceless gift that God has for you today?