For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him – Psalm 103:11
There is a difference between mercy and great mercy. While the bible tells us that the LORD will have mercy on whom He chooses to be merciful (Romans 9:15), great mercy is reserved for those who fear Him, which means to respect Him and have an awe of Him. Therefore, not only are those who respect and have an awe of Him blessed, they have a greater shielding from the consequences of their missteps. Here is an example of the difference between mercy and great mercy: while mercy shields us, great mercy shields us and shields members of our household. Remember that aunt or uncle who seems overly religious and spends all her time in prayer? Thank him or her the next time you see them, because their fear of God has made great mercy available to you. Did you just get lucky in your youth when you did silly things while your friends paid a hefty price? No, it is because great mercy has been accrued for your benefit. Oh, that we too would respect the Lord so that it may be well with us and our household!
My relationship with God anchors my family in mercy
SuperChamp 