THE MIRACLE OF MERCY

And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years – Luke 1: 6-7

The lots fell to Zechariah and he entered the temple to perform the priestly duties for that day – a day like any other, but a day of mercy! Every day we walk with God, secure in His love is a miracle. The angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah at the altar. The old man was startled and gripped with fear (Lk 1:12). Gabriel allayed his fear and assured him that his prayer had been heard, with the promise that his wife Elizabeth would bear you a son to be named John, who will be a joy and delight to the parents and many (Lk. 1:13-14). The angel went on to explain how John was to be raised, as a Nazarite priest because he would preach about the coming of the Messiah.

This was mercy at work. Zechariah’s unbelief did not delay or deny God’s promise. The great miracle of this season is the MIRACLE of MERCY – that we have done nothing to deserve Christmas because we have done nothing to deserve Christ. For years and decades, the ‘righteousness’ of Zacharias and Elizabeth did not qualify them for fruitfulness, but at the appointed time, the Mercy of God answered for them. Christmas means that even when we were unworthy, God gave us nothing less than Himself in the Person and Name of His Son Jesus Christ. He has released to us nothing less than an ocean of Himself: “But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved)” (Eph.2:4-5).

Don’t be content with a ‘nice’ Christmas when Jesus says, ‘It is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.’ (Lk.12: 32). God wants to give us more than we can imagine this Christmas season. Will we settle for less because we assume we deserve less? Or will we rest on His mercy to receive along with His best, all other things?

Allow God to give you His best this Christmas, not because you deserve it, but because his grace and mercy command to give it. Moreover, since He gave so much, why must we give so little to those who should share out of the avalanche of His Mercy toward us?