Several years ago a member of our church was battling with a crack cocaine addiction. One Sunday after I had finished preaching I noticed that the young man was not in church that day.  I felt God leading me to go and find him so I gathered a group of men and we drove through the streets searching. With the lead of God, we saw him walking a particular street and when he saw us, he ran. Still dressed in my suit I got out of the car and began a foot chase. In his effort to escape my pursuit, the young man ran into a known crack house. That's when the owner of the house shouted to the young man "The preacher is here looking for you so get out."

Whenever I recall this incident, it reminds me of the words of Paul, "but I obtained mercy." He testifies of how wicked he had been but something happened to change that, he obtained mercy. Paul uses the passive tense of the Greek verb "obtained." The usage of this tense refers to a person being pursued, even though they may be trying to escape. The pursuit is so intense that the person cannot get away. Mercy was so determined to rescue Paul until it chases him.

Take a moment to thank God for His pursuing mercy. Our sinful nature would not allow us to come to God for ourselves so mercy found us. We would not come to Him, so He came to us. Praise God that you too have obtained mercy.