“because of the tender mercy of our God”

- from Luke 1:78

Jesus once got into an intense conversation with a lawyer over the biblical command to “love your neighbor.” Jesus told a story about two religious leaders who passed by a man who was lying injured on the side of a road. Then the “Good Samaritan” passed by, stopped and helped the injured man.

After telling the parable, Jesus asks the lawyer which of these three was a neighbor to the injured man. The lawyer spits out: “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus replies: “Go and do likewise.”

Mercy is not just something we receive. Mercy is something we’re invited to walk in and to extend to others.

Being both a receiver and a conduit of mercy requires tremendous strength.

We often think of mercy as being gentle or soft. But often in Scripture, we see the Lord working severe mercies. When his people engage in self-destructive behavior, he intervenes. Plagues. Occupation. Exile. Discipline.

But the Lord will not discipline his people forever. His severe mercy is always followed by his tender mercy.

This tender mercy is captured in Zechariah’s song in at the beginning of Luke’s gospel. God’s people who have experienced oppression, enemies and occupation are about to receive salvation. Severe mercy is being replaced by tender mercy. The long night is over, the long-awaited for dawn has come.

Where have you experienced God’s tender mercies in the past few days? Can you ask for the strength to show mercy to someone that it would otherwise be difficult or impossible for you to show mercy to?