-Strength for Today- "Christmas is God’s Anticipated Moment of Mercy. - Luke 1:46-56.

     Mercy is when one has the absolute power to levy:

·        Harm or

·        Punish,

      And with no thought of forgiveness, out of an act of compassion, demonstrates unconditional love towards the unloving.  It then is no wonder that Mary conveyed the mercy of God in her song of praise, even before she gave birth, which was by a process, we can’t explain to her son Jesus, (Luke 1:46-56), because the Christmas story is all about mercy! Mercy is all about Jesus’ coming, which would provide the fulfillment of Old Testament promises.  

    God calls this act of promise, “a divine gift of relief.” Grace and mercy are usually seen side-by-side, but for some strange reason, mercy seems to live in grace's shadow, which is usually obscured by the light of her “popularity” and “prestige.”. And as we look at what God could’ve done toward “sinful mankind,” it's time to give mercy her due! Because God's:

·        Infinite compassion was about to be

·        Actively demonstrated toward

     The hopeless and miserable human race.  God didn’t show pity, nor was His unexplainable process an act of sorrow, but one of “divine relief” that resulted in the “Gift Child,” being born that the prophet Isaiah spoke of, “…who shall be called, “Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of peace” – Isaiah 9:6.

   Therefore, if God weren’t “rich in mercy,” (Ephesians 2:4), we might feel:

·        Secure in His love and

·        Encouraged by His grace,

     But the lack of His “divine relief” would hinder the “Presence of His Peace”. In the simplest of terms, changes in our lives only come when we’re "shown mercy." The human problem with “mercy” is that we want “mercy” only when we ask that the multitude of sins in our lives to be forgiven – 1 John 1:9. But the essential link between:

·        God's grace and

·        Our peace is

·        His mercy.

     So this Christmas, with all the gifts being wrapped, and those that’ll be given away; why don’t you take time to thank God for His mercy, by extending mercy to those around you. And

through the power of the Holy Spirit, be a blessing by sharing with that:

·        Homeless person or that

·        Person who perhaps

     Are at odds with you. Because when you exhibit the “presence” of God’s “unspeakable gift”, you’ll be more like your “merciful” heavenly Father this Christmas season.

Author: Plez Lovelady, Jr., PhD