CELEBRATING THE FATHER OF MERCIES

O give thanks to the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy endures for ever – Psalm 136:1

Mercy is the visible, tangible, and dynamic demonstration of divine Love. It is the outworking of God’s Love: His kindness or benevolence stretched towards humankind to meet our needs. God – Love – expresses Himself as “the Father of mercies” (1Jh.4:7; 2Cor.1:3b). Mercy is a unique attribute of God, an infinite and inexhaustible energy within the divine nature which disposes God to be actively compassionate. It is not a transient mood. Rather, it is one of the currencies of heaven on earth: the earth is full of God’s Mercy (Psa.119:64). Yet, many do not recognize His mercy; they take it for granted! We must choose to celebrate His Mercy!

Forever, the Father’s Mercy stands: a boundless, overwhelming immensity of divine goodness and compassion. When through the Blood of the everlasting covenant we who were children of the shadows ultimately attain our home in the light, we must celebrate and sound forth most perfectly the Mercy of God. Ponder on where Mercy found and rescued us from! We, by our sins partook in the unholy rebellion which rashly sought to dethrone the King of creation. We in times past walked according to the course of this world, according to the evil prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the sons of disobedience. We lived in the lusts of the flesh and were by nature the children of wrath (Eph.2:2-4). Yet, mercy found and rescued us!

We who were once enemies and alienated in our minds through wicked works shall see God face to face and bear His Name on our foreheads! We, who earned condemnation shall by mercy, enjoy communion. We who deserve the pains and torture of hell shall know the triumph and bliss of heaven – all “through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the Dayspring from on high has visited us” (Lk.1:78). But mercy is not limited to the future reality of heaven; it coexists with justice on earth. God has always dealt in mercy with humankind and will always deal in justice when His mercy is despised. His mercy never began to be, but from eternity was; so it will never cease to be. His mercy endures forever (Psa.106:1; 107:1; 118:1-4; 136).

Mercy is the answer to the guilt, pain, fears, and tears in the world. Sin’s despair, and human needs and misery provoke the celebration of the mysteries of mercy. Satan has no panacea to mercy: mercy silences and confuses him! (Ps.3:2-4, 102:13). Mercy ensures that you are not “messed up” in life (Ps.103:1-8, 11, 17-18). It comforts and sustains life (Ps.119: 76, 77). Mercy preserves you in a world of famine, war and scourge of the tongue (Lam.3:22). Mercy connects Needs to Miracles. Need is the incubator for miracles of mercy; consider Zacchaeus and Bartimeous (Mk.10; Lk.19). God’s mercy has no respect for the duration or intensity of afflictions. Mercy releases Favour (Ps.102:13). It takes mercy to run the race of life; to fight the battles of life; to guarantee your bread and to grant you riches and favour in life (Eccl.9:11-12). Celebrate Mercy!