Daily devotion – Mercy!
The Blessing of God’s Mercy
The word mercy occurs 276 times in 261 verses in the King James Bible. That alone tells us how precious and central mercy is to the heart of God.
Psalm 5:7
“But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.”
Psalm 23:6
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”
Luke 6:36
“Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”
The Greek word eleos describes mercy as “the outward manifestation of pity; it assumes need on the part of the one who receives it, and resources adequate to meet that need on the part of the one who shows it.”
What a wonderful description of our God! We are the needy ones, and He possesses limitless resources to meet our greatest need.
The Bible reminds us:
Ephesians 2:4
“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us.”
God, in His abundant mercy, has provided salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ, for all who will receive Him by faith. We are not saved because we deserve it, but because God delights in showing mercy.
It is also interesting that wherever the words mercy and peace appear together in Scripture, they are almost always found in that order, the one exception being Galatians 6:16. There is an important lesson here. Mercy comes first because mercy is God’s gracious action toward us, while peace is the blessed result experienced in the heart of the one who has received that mercy.
Grace and mercy are closely related, yet they highlight different aspects of God’s love. Grace is God’s favour toward guilty sinners who deserve judgment. Mercy is God’s compassionate response toward those who are miserable, broken, and in need. Grace pardons the rebel; mercy comforts the sufferer.
Mercy is one of my favourite gifts that God has bestowed upon me. The Lord sees every weakness, every failure, and every stumble. Yet instead of giving me what I deserve, He patiently extends His mercy again and again.
What a comfort it is to know that God’s mercy is not occasional but continual.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”
Today, no matter what you are facing or how often you have stumbled, remember that our God is rich in mercy. His compassion has not run dry, His patience has not been exhausted, and His love has not diminished. Rest in His mercy today, and let His peace fill your heart.
Thank You, Lord, for Your never-ending mercy.