Daniel 9:18 “We do not present our supplications before you because of our righteous deeds, but because of your greatest mercies.”

No matter what I do or say.  No matter who I help or don’t. No matter what righteous deeds I might accomplish, or how much I give, or what wonderful words I write, or what glorious songs I sing.  No matter how much I devote my life to the Lord, and turn my desire to Him.  No matter how much I put iniquity behind me and walk according to His word and His plan. No matter how much I pray for my church, my elected officials, the missionaries abroad, or my family.  None of these things are a reason for me to expect an answer from the Lord.  The only reason there is that will ever bring an answer from God is His mercy.  His great mercy.  mercy that is far above my thought process.

Now, don’t get me wrong. All of the things listed above are good, and I should strive to fulfill each and every one.  I should do righteous deeds and think righteous thoughts.  I should think of things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy.  I should speak words that will minister grace to the hearer. I should pray without ceasing.  I should bear my brothers or sisters burden with them,  I should do good when I see that good needs to be done.  I should bring all my tithes into the storehouse. I should pray for and honor all those that are in authority over me, from my boss at work to the President of the United States.  I should put all my evil ways behind me.  I should walk in the liberty wherein Christ has set me free.  I should do these things.

But it is not these things that determine what His answer will be when I stand before Him.  he will always answer because of His mercy.  My deeds, thoughts, and actions will never be the reason He answers me.  His answer is based on what He did for me on that cross.  He was beaten and bruised, wounded and nailed to that tree.  He suffered more than I can possibly imagine.  I remember once, as a young boy of around 8, jumping out of my tree and having a nail go right  through my foot   All the way through.  I pulled my foot up and it came out,, and started bleeding.  My mom bandaged me up without a trip to the doctor, and it healed after a while   But it hurt – bad.   

But to be whipped with cat-o-nine tails laced with small stones would be much more than I could bear.  The small stones would rip the flesh open, over and over.  Then to have a crown of thorns pushed onto my scalp, digging into my head until blood started oozing out, would be the icing on the cake.  I would be ready to give up at that moment, never mind all that was still to come.  Carrying that cross uphill, in that weakened condition would be grueling. Then to have four nails, one in each foot and one in each hand, driven through my feet and hands, I cannot imagine.  And then to be lifted up on that cross, with those being the only  things that are holding me there, would be excruciating.   What Jesus went through is beyond my comprehension.  But even in that weakened, beaten condition, He cried out “Father forgive the, for they know not what they do.”  Great mercy, even on that cross.

I have done nothing compared to what He has done for me;.  I have given nothing compared to what he has given for me.  I have said, or written nothing compared to the words He has left in the Bible for me.  It is not, nor will it ever be, the things that come out of me that will bring me His answer.  It is His great mercy.  It is His great love. As the great song says:

Let us do those things we should do, and give what we should, and say what we should.  Let us do all we can to live righteous lives before a holy God.  But may we never think it is these things that will bring an answer to our prayers.  God answers prayers for all types of people, even unbelievers.  He answers prayers for sinners and saints, rich and poor, just and unjust.  It is never because of what we do, but because of mercy that He answers.  That is why we must wait as long as he deems necessary for the answer to our prayers.  He owes us nothing. He has already paid it all. Anything more He gives us is completely and strictly because of His mercy.  That fact will never change.