“Yet gleaning grapes will be left in it,

Like the shaking of an olive tree,

Two or three olives at the top of the uppermost bough,

Four or five in its most fruitful branches,”

Says the Lord God of Israel.”

God leaves us just a little bit. This is the remnant that obtains mercy. He does not make a full end, but He leaves us few in number. He leaves the soul humbled, but not destroyed. He takes away man’s pride, but not his glorying in Christ. He destroys self-confidence, but not hope.

God’s way is to bring down and then exalt. He makes us see that we deserve NO MERCY, and then He shows us mercy. Has this happened to you? Do you realize that you are a sinner with no righteousness and strength? This humility is the goodness of God’s ways, causing us to praise Him sincerely! “Whoever is wise will observe these things, and they will understand the lovingkindness of the Lord [Ps 107:43].”

We won’t boast in our obedience: we’ll have enough sin to brag no more. We won't boast in our faithfulness and zeal. We won’t boast in our knowledge, because we can’t obey without the Spirit. We won’t look upon others with contempt, but we will see that we stand by grace. We will take the low seat, so we can be exalted [Luke 14:10]. We’ll learn the way of peace is humbling ourselves before God who looks upon the heart [Isa 32:17]. We won’t seek human praise, because we don’t deserve it, and it means nothing. These things are God’s workings inside of a man to bring him to grace - to the knowledge and to the lifestyle of the gospel. We shall be proud no more and continually learn that Christ is all!

He has pardoned us, He forgives us, and He enables us to sin more more. He is the reason that temptation doesn’t conquer, and He recovers us from our falls! We stand only because of Christ, the Spirit, and the promise of the Father. We are nothing but the recipients of mercy.