By Pastor Daniel 

Introduction
As we rethink of our relationship with God, in various aspects in the months past, I would like to conclude yet another feature of our relationship with God.
 
It is the Holy and Merciful God.  Ultimately in all the pictures of our relationship with God as Father, Friend, Shepherd, Bridegroom, He remains our God.
                                     
THE HOLY GOD
Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
 
The psalmist acknowledges the great and mighty God.  It is God’s exhortation that we learn to be still, to be quiet, to allow everything around us to settle as dust settles on the ground, thereby to know that there is only one fact remains - that God is God.
 
He is Almighty, He is great, He is to be exalted amongst nation and the earth. 
 
If there is a favorite song sung in heaven, it has to be “Holy, holy, holy”.  Countless times in the Bible, the reference of the angels in heaven singing and declaring that God is holy are recorded.  It is no accident that it is always in a trilogy.  This is because we worship a Triune God.
 
Despite all the pictures of relationships we have with God, a final encounter with Him is always His holiness.  Holiness cannot escape the attributes of God.
 
Moses in search for the destiny of his life, came to a mountain, only to see a burning bush but a voice coming out of it says, “Take off your scandals for you are standing on holy ground.”
 
Isaiah’s encounter with God in a vision in chapter 6, saw the absolute holiness of God to the point that he only saw his own sinfulness.  Even a prophet who spoke the word of God considered himself a man of unclean lips.
 
John on the island of Patmos, when given the vision of God, saw the holiness of God and the angels and elders bowing down to worship Him.
 
Even Peter in the earthly days of Jesus, on an occasion when he was in the fishing boat and there was a miraculous catch, jumped into the water, swam to shore and bow before Jesus, exclaiming, “Depart from me for I am a sinner.”  What did he see then?  It has to be the holiness of God.
 
THE MERCIFUL GOD
With that thought of God’s holiness, we can never comprehend - the mercies of God.  They are almost opposite in character.  When we think of justice and holiness, we think little of mercy and grace.
 
Yet this holy God is at the same time a merciful God.
 
“The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin …” Exodus 34:6-7.
 
“Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments …” Deuteronomy 7:9.
 
In the Bible, the virtues of mercy and compassion are mentioned in various forms hundreds of times, especially in describing God’s nature. Instead of giving us what we deserve, God has shown mercy again and again.
 
What does the mercy of God done for us besides saving us from our sins?
 
BE YE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY
The mercies of God does not take away our responsibility, but to give us a chance to repent and be saved. We can ask ourselves: How have we responded?
 
The obvious answer is really to repent and live holy lives because we have a holy God.  It is not being flippant in our relationship with God.  It holds in good tension, the intimacy we have in God, at the same time the awe we hold when we worship our God.
 
Then the other responsibility is that we show mercy because we have been shown mercy.  That is what our life is redeemed for - to bless as we are being blessed.
 
As we enter into a new decade in 2020, may we who are blessed, be more godlike.  Let us Share our lives with others, Shine our lights to a world who does not know God.