BY HIS MERCY

“he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” – Titus 3:5

A California man exercised "good judgment" by turning himself in after Googling his name and finding himself on a "most wanted" website, according to authorities.

In March 2014, a bout of curiosity, followed by guilt, landed Christopher Viatafa in jail for a gun-related incident allegedly committed more than seven months prior, police said. Viatafa was wanted by police in connection with an August 2013 incident involving shooting into an inhabited dwelling, but the 27-year-old had no idea his mug shot was featured on Northern California's Most Wanted website until he looked himself up on the Internet. When he found out, he was alarmed enough to turn himself in to authorities, according to police." Viatafa was at a private party at the San Leandro Senior Center when he got into an argument with some other partygoers. Viatafa "pulled out a semi-automatic handgun and fired a few rounds into the ground near the people". After being thrown out of the party, he shot several more rounds, police said. Viatafa was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, police said. He believed that mercy and justice were preferable to a guilty conscience.  

It is only by God’s great mercy that we are saved through Jesus Christ. Today in prayer, give thanks to the Lord for His mercy.

“Moral indignation never led anyone to Christ, but mercy has.” – William Dever

God’s Word: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” – 1 Peter 1:3