What do you believe qualifies you for the promises of God? This is a question you might have asked yourself more than once. Do you have an answer? Is it how much you have prayed? Is it how much you have confessed? Is it how good you have lived? If these are the source of your confidence then you are on shaky ground. We can never have our performance as the source of confidence to receive a promise from God. If we are relying on our performance we are walking in self righteousness or works righteousness. It is true that I want a clean conscience and live a godly life but this can never be my source of confidence before God. We waver in our confidence toward God because we are trusting in our works.

Jesus must be my only source of confidence before God.
Colossians 1:12 "Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light."

We are qualified to receive the promises of God because Jesus is enough. We have been made the righteousness of God through believing in the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord. We seem to think that salvation is received by grace through faith but everything else is dependent on our performance. I am righteous therefore I am qualified, because I am in Jesus every promise is yes and amen to me.

Our self worth is a determining factor in walking in confidence with God. Where do you look to for your self worth? Is it in your relationships with people? Is it in how much you earn or by how much is in your bank account? Is it in your occupation and performance? Our worth cannot be determined by any of the above as we will always feel rejected or disappointed. Our value has been determined by what was spent in order to purchase us. When we go to an auction, the highest bidder determined the value of an item. Your worth is directly relational to what was paid for you.

We have been purchased by God's most valuable asset, His Son Jesus.
Matt 13: 44-46 "Again the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it."

We are the treasure and pearl of great price. God gave His all so that we might be bought back by the blood of His Son. Have you ever been told that you are valuable and precious· You are, because of the great price paid for you.
John 3:16 God loved us so much he gave His only begotten son that we might have the quantity and quality of life He has when we believe in Him.

Our performance based belief system produces feelings of low self worth and inferiority and influences our walk with God. God is not moved by your performance. He is moved because you are in Jesus and because His heart is full of mercy.

Mercy means Gods' deeds of compassion from His most innermost being or, His passion and desire to treat man better than he deserves. This is not a thought from afar but a deed in action from a heart filled with compassion and love.

Titus 3: 4,5 "But when the kindness and the love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, that having being justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

David wrote in every verse of Psalm 136 that Gods' mercy endures forever. The word endures means the ability to take prolonged strain. We can put any amount of strain on His mercy and it will not fail us. It remains forever. Well, how long is forever·? His mercy is new every morning (Lam 3: 22-24), and His goodness and mercy follows us all the days of our lives (Psalm 23: 6). We are told to "come boldly or with great confidence to the throne of grace, that we might obtain mercy and find grace to help in our time of need." Heb 4:16. If you are looking for anything else at the throne you wonât find it there. You only find mercy and grace to help at His throne. Looking for judgement, condemnation or anger? You won't find it at His throne!

A wonderful example in the word of God being moved by mercy is the story of blind Bartimaeus. Mark 10: 46-52 "Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, :Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!" Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called.. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, "Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you." And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. So Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" The blind man said to Him, "Rabbi, that I may receive my sight." Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.

Even though Jesus was on His way to the cross he heard a cry for mercy and He stood still. Blind Bartimaeus cried out for mercy and it caused Jesus to stop in His tracks and called the man to Him. He then asked him an amazing question, "What do you want Me to do for you?"

Jesus said "He who has seen me has seen the Father..." (John 14:9). The way Jesus responded is the way our Father responds and He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb 13:8). When we cry out for mercy he asks us the same question·, "What can I do for you?"