LifeLink Devotions for Friday, October 16, 2026
We are very prone to point out what’s wrong with others. We are natural faultfinders.
What a contrast to God the Father who is merciful. Mercy is not to give someone what they deserve. Were it not for God’s mercy towards us none of us would have ever been saved. God, in his mercy, chooses to recognize only the good.
When the Apostle Paul was writing to his pastoral trainee Timothy, he spoke about a Christian friend who had been a great help to him. The man’s name was Onesiphorus Paul wanted him remembered because he often refreshed him while in prison and was not ashamed of his chains. Paul specifically prays for two things on his behalf.
“May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus,” and “May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day!”
There are three provisions of God’s mercy.
- At salvation, the mercy of God covers our sin and doesn’t give us what we deserve while the grace of God grants us what we do not deserve in our salvation.
- Throughout our life the mercy of God constantly ministers to us, even when we sin.
- On that day when the Lord judges all lives, we will experience the totality of His mercy by the removal of all guilt and shame as we stand before Him.
When Paul prays for Onesiphorus To find mercy from the Lord he is not asking the Lord to save him on that day. He is already saved. What I see in this is the Lord granting Onesiphorus the marvelous experience of standing before God without any remembrance of his sin. When Paul says “may the Lord grant this to you” he uses a word that means “without question or argument.” You and I will see the fulfness of the mercy of the Lord.
I’m focusing on that today because I can’t wait for that to happen. To stand before the Lord someday and not have any recollection of how I failed him. To not have any shame over how I behaved. To fully be covered by the mercy of the Lord to have removed all guilt. I know that’s the reality in my spirit today but in my flesh I still feel the tug of sinful behavior. You do too. But on that day the Lord will grant to us the full expression of his mercy.
On that day when the Lord returns we will leave behind our shame and regret. We will see the promise fulfilled that God remembers our sin no more. We will experience for the first time total freedom from all that hinders intimacy with Christ.
May the Lord grant each one of us to find mercy from the Lord on that day.
Pastor John
