Today's reading

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. –1 Peter 1:3 NIV

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Mercy Versus Grace—Part 1

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. –1 Peter 1:3 NIV

What is the difference between mercy and grace? Answer: Mercy and grace are often confused. While the terms have similar meanings, grace and mercy are not the same. To summarize the difference: mercy is God not punishing us as our sins deserve, and grace is God blessing us despite the fact that we do not deserve it. Mercy is deliverance from judgment. Grace is extending kindness to the unworthy.According to the Bible, we have all sinned (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8). As a result of that sin, we all deserve death (Romans 6:23) and eternal judgment in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:12-15). With that in mind, every day we live is an act of God’s mercy. If God gave us all what we deserve, we would all be, right now, condemned for eternity. In Psalm 51:1-2, David cries out, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions….” A plea to God for mercy is asking Him to withhold the judgment we deserve and instead grant to us the forgiveness we in no way have earned.Used by Permission: http://www.gotquestions.org/

prayer focuses

Praise God for His mercy that holds back what you should receive.

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you extend mercy to others as God would have you.

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Bayside Community Church

At the beginning of each year, as a church, we set aside time for prayer and fasting. We believe God deserves our full attention and our best. So, before we fill our calendars for the year, we want to listen.  We say with Samuel, “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening”. (1 Sam 3:9)

These daily readings are collection of thoughts and scripture to use as prompts to invite you to dig deeper - to listen and lean in. Use the scriptures as a springboard to explore further. Consider praying through the scriptures given and let the Word of God speak.

We are praying that you will hear from God in personal and powerful ways over the next 14 days and beyond!