Mercy

Look to the cross of Christ. It is the collision of two worlds. This is the picture of God's mercy upon us. It is also the picture of God's judgement of sin. It is the connection point of Spirit and flesh. Sin had to be dealt with because the Lord's righteousness requires it. But in His wrath, he remembers mercy.

"O Lord, I have heard the report of you,
and your work, O Lord, do I fear.
In the midst of the years revive it;
in the midst of the years make it known;
in wrath remember mercy." - Habakkuk 3:2

Those that have, by grace, come to have faith in Christ Jesus now bear witness to God's mercy. We were once dead in our trespasses and sins.... But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. - Ephesians 2:4-7

Even in our pain and confusion, frustrations, worry, or lament, we can still remember the goodness of God and that His mercy is abundant. In the book of Lamentations, a collection of laments, believed to be written by the prophet Jeremiah, we see this beautiful glimpse of hope.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.” - Lamentations 3:22-24

Imagine with me, if you will,  that you have suffered a great deal of grief. If you haven't, you are near to someone who has. Or you are currently being prepared to suffer through a time of grief. All of us are bound to suffer in between the "already" of the cross and the "not yet" of the glories to come. What is your response to having a broken heart? Even still; within the painful songs written by the melody of circumstance and to the tempo of your broken heart,  can you sing hopeful promises like the prophet, Jeremiah? It is certainly difficult to wander through the wreckage that sin has left in our world today.

But we have this hope. We have this light. His name is Jesus of Nazareth. God that became man and  born into a place that was known for being dirty, unworthy, or "on the wrong side of the tracks." This was God in flesh. This was part of His sovereign plan to see sin defeated. This was His plan to pour out His mercy upon those whom He loves. This was the Lord's way of showing that He is near and that He knows fully what it is like to suffer and experience loss.

Meditate on the Lamentations 3:22-24 today. Let the Word of God be a soothing balm to the wounds that the enemy has left in the wake of his destruction. Let these words be an encouragement to you and may they increase your faith. ​

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