But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us.

Ephesians 2:4

The story is told of a poor woman who traveled a great distance to talk with a famous general. She begged  the general to pardon her son, who was a member  of his army but had been charged under military law for a serious offense. The general said sternly that justice required her son to be put to death. The mother replied, “I’m not asking for justice; I’m begging for mercy.”  The general replied that her son did not deserve mercy. The mother quickly replied, “You couldn’t give my son mercy if he had earned it, and it is mercy I am asking for.” The general granted the mother’s wish, and the son’s life was saved.

Think of the mercy of God. God had a plan for us from the beginning. Mercy was in His mind when He  laid the foundation of the world. From the time that humanity first turned from Him, He offered us ways to return to Him. Finally, God sacrificed His own Son as a way of offering eternal salvation to everyone who depends on Christ’s death and resurrection to pay for our sins.

The mercy of God is incomprehensible to the human mind. The Psalms continually speak of the everlasting mercy of God. We don’t deserve it, but it wouldn’t be mercy if we did.

Thought:  I will thank God today for the richness of His mercy.