Hold On Tightly to Mercy and Truth – (Proverbs 3:3-4)
Daily Proverbs
Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.
Daily Bible Study
Mercy and truth are two cornerstones of a heart given over to Christ and ruled by the Holy Spirit. Mercy toward others is a character trait of a heart in love with Jesus. Just as God showed mercy to us, we are to show mercy toward others. Mercy as part of our character is required for a life effective for the kingdom of God. Moreover, truth as taught to us from God’s word provides the foundation on which we walk and share our faith in Christ with others. Dear child of God it’s important to remember our faith in Christ and our reliance on the Bible go hand in hand for a successful spirit filled Christian life. We cannot have one without the other. That is why God with our salvation, sends us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit indwells every follower of Jesus as He changes our hearts and minds from the inside out.
Therefore, these two attributes first take hold internally as the Holy Spirit indwells us after salvation. Then they grow within us through the Holy Spirit’s work in our hearts, after which they become an outward manifestation of our character. This is part of the “fruits of the spirit” or the outward change that is part of the evidence and work of salvation in our lives. This process of spiritual growth which occurs in us as a result of salvation is called, “sanctification” and it’s a work carried out by the Holy Spirit in the lives of all Christians. However, our obedience to following the Holy Spirit’s guidance as well as our study of God’s word can accelerate this process of spiritual growth. And consequently our lack of obedience in following the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and lack of Bible study can hinder our spiritual growth. So much so that it’s possible to remain a “new” Christian for most of our lives, never really growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord.