Matthew 6:11 edited

Consider this, this morning.

[1.] God gives these mercies to those that cannot return any service to Him.

"You open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.” ()

What can a beast of the field or a fish or a bird do to deserve anything from God’s hand?

How about babies? When God rocks their cradles and feeds them from their mother, what can the baby do back for God?

"“Listen to me, house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been sustained from the womb, carried along since birth. "I will be the same until your old age, and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will bear and rescue you.” ()

God not only takes care of us in our older years, after we’ve done His will and service, but He’s done it even from the womb!

You see believer, it was before you could do or say anything, before you could give thanks for His mercy,

when you couldn’t know who was your Benefactor, who it was who nourished and cherished you,

even then, it was God that rocked your cradle, nursed you, and brought you up and carried you in the tender arms of His providence.

[2.] God gives these mercies to those that will not serve Him.

"Listen, heavens, and pay attention, earth, for the Lord has spoken: “I have raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me.” ()

There are many in this world whom God protects, supplies, and provides all their needs, yet they respond with disobedience to God.

They respond with contempt, rebellion and unthankfulness.

The sun didn’t just rise by chance today. Look at . "so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

[3.] At our best, you and I cannot deserve God’s mercies or somehow merit anything from God’s hand.

Here’s a question put forward in . "Can a man be of any use to God? Can even a wise man be of use to him?” ()

The answer comes in chapter 35 of this same book:

"If you are righteous, what do you give him, or what does he receive from your hand?” ()

If a man’s ways be perfect, in which way could you profit God?

So whatever God does for us, His creatures, He does freely because He will never be our debtor.

We’re not going to do things that cause Him to have to pay us back!

No, we can only pray with Jacob who prayed to God: "I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. ...” ()

None of God’s mercies can simply be said to be little.

Whatever comes from our great God should be of great value and held in the highest esteem from ourselves.

Much like you would cherish a signed picture from your favorite music artist.

It’s a 25 cent picture signed with a sharpie marker from the dollar general.

But the value of that cheap gift is much prized because of who gave it to you.

If you’d cherish an autographed picture from a music artist, what about the God who made them!

There are no cheap mercies.

When you and I are put into the balances, we and all our worth and deservingness cannot bring forth

the least mercy from God or merit the daily bread we have from God.

The goodness and kindness shown to us comes only by the free grace of God.

We’ll always and forever be debtor’s to God’s mercy!

[4.] We all actually deserve the contrary. We’ve all forfeited our comforts and placed ourselves out of God’s protection by sin.

“death spread to all people, because all sinned.” () says.

We actually provoke God to cut us off.

Honestly, if you removed God’s grace from your life and you had not Christ, what would stop God from throwing you into hell right now?

What keeps Him from executing His sentence upon you this moment?

Nothing but His compassionate pity over His creatures.

So you hear things like this: "Yet he was compassionate; he atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them. He often turned his anger aside and did not unleash all his wrath.” ()

Flip over to .

"“At this, the servant fell facedown before him and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you everything.’ "Then the master of that servant had compassion, released him, and forgave him the loan. ” ()

Beloved of God, those in Christ, we are loved out of danger. "...but your love has delivered me from the Pit of destruction, for you have thrown all my sins behind your back.” ()

Oh the blessedness of being in Christ!

So how do we apply this: "Give us today our daily bread.” ()

Let’s not place our confidence in secondary causes, but in God, by whose goodness, by whom all good things come to us, from Him (ultimately).

Also, let us be thankful to God for the things given to us to enjoy. Why?

Because there is danger in ingratitude.

Usually, we never forget God more than when He remembers us the most.

Usually, it’s when men have what they want, then God is neglected.

That’s usually when we grow careless in prayer, or flat and cold in the performance of it.

Mark well these words. "When they had pasture, they became satisfied; they were satisfied, and their hearts became proud. Therefore they forgot me.” ()

So ingratitude is dangerous.

Also, if the Lord is the giver and donor of all these things, let us not abuse them.

We’re not to openly sin against the Giver of such goodness.

We’re not to fight against Him with His own gifts!