NOT OF HIM THAT WILLETH (1)
OCTOBER 1, 2025
TEXT: So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. (Romans 9:16)
A lot of people generally believe that all it takes to prosper in life and to blossom abundantly is to be simply hardworking. They believe that once they are ambitious and self-willed, they will achieve all that they have set out to achieve. Unfortunately, the painful truth is that man may still engage in all this and still remain empty, unprogressive, and irrelevant. There are men who have toiled hard all their lives, yet struggle to fulfill destiny (either partially or completely). If wealth and prosperity were to be determined by hard work, a lot of young men who work hard, such as the diggers of wells, splitters of rocks, loaders of cement who can load and unload over 500 bags from trucks on a single day, etc., would all be the richest set of people on earth. However, as it stands, God’s standards are completely different from man’s standards.
Apostle Paul hinted to us in our given text that mere race and speed may sometimes not be enough. The grace and mercy of God are quite necessary to sustain long-term prosperity. Human will is weak and powerless. Willpower can promote discipline but might not be able to sustain divine prosperity. This is not to opine that hard work is useless or that God despises the labour of man. What the Apostle was trying to say is that God encourages believers to strive in seeking the mercy of God in every adventure that many come their way in a bid to enjoy and access truly lasting success.
The mercy of God is the supernatural intervention from above that conquers every kind of earthly restriction and limitation. It produces super-fabulous results which hard work alone may not tangibly produce. Speed and hard work are key requirements to thrive in secular athletics, but in the race of life, the swift and the strong may not necessarily be ahead. (Ecclesiastes 9:11)
KEY POINTS
- Mercy makes the unqualified qualified. When mercy comes upon a person, such a person begins to wonder what he has done to deserve such a kind gesture, as men and women will begin to compete to favour such a person. (Esther 2:17)
- It is a destiny booster. A man’s destiny may be crawling, but the moment God blows the whistle of mercy over his life, the destiny instantly skyrockets.
- Mercy makes the forgotten to be remembered for favour. (Genesis 41:9)
SEARCHLIGHT
Mercy is a shaper of destiny. It crowns and uplifts. Life is not all about effort but effort plus God’s mercy.
PRAYER
O Lord, count me as one of your candidates of mercy, in the Mighty name of Jesus.
BIBLE READING
Ezekiel 4-6, Luke 3
PASTOR MICHAEL OMOLE
