Look at God's Mercy

"So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, 
but of God who shows mercy."

Romans 9:16

A man said to a pastor, "I know the definition of mercy, but I'm a visual type person. I need to see it. What does God's mercy look like?" The pastor said, "God shows us His mercy at the cross, where His Son died for our sins." 

The man who does not understand the cross of Jesus, says, "A man dying on a cross centuries ago has nothing to do with my life." The believer, transformed by the mercy of God, says, "God's mercy for me as a sinner is proven at the cross of Jesus."

Free grace for sinners is the mercy of God in Christ. It is free because "it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs." Man's efforts cannot compete with the mercy of God. It is God's will to save sinners everywhere, who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. It is freely bestowed on all who believe. 

The self-righteous person prays, "God I thank You that I am not like other men." The sinner prays, "God be merciful to me a sinner." The self-righteous man sees no need for God's mercy. The man who confessed to being a sinner is justified freely by God's mercy.