Take the Mercy

“For whatever reason God chose to make man as he is–limited and suffering and subject to sorrows and death–He had the honesty and the courage to take His own medicine. Whatever game He is playing with His creation, He has kept His own rules and played fair. He can exact nothing from man that He has not exacted from Himself. He has Himself gone through the whole of human experience, from the trivial irritations of family life and the cramping restrictions of hard work and lack of money to the worst horrors of pain and humiliation, defeat, despair and death. When He was a man, He played the man. He was born in poverty and died in disgrace and thought it well worthwhile.”–Dorthy Sayers

 

Before the universe began, from all eternity, Christ was in God. Since the birth of humanity, he has been a living Word. Then he dwelt among us on earth as a poor man. Risen from the dead, by the Holy Spirit he remains alongside each person.

 

 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”—John 1:14

 

Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help. –Hebrews 4:16-17 (The MSG)

 

Jesus, we are thankful that you ‘walked in our shoes’ and you know our pain and struggles intimately through first hand experience.  Thank you that you are with us even now and forevermore. 

 

 

 

 

 

Constancy

Constancy
Constancy
Constancy:  The state or quality of being constant or steadfast; freedom from change; stability; fixedness; immutability; as, the constancy of God in his nature and attributes.

 We are facing difficult days, many we know and love suffer and there is much darkness and despair around us.  We must fight the temptation to leave the path of truth for the sake of some prospect of hope of our own. It is not our understanding of the situation which can show us what is wise, but only the truth of the Word of God. 

 

I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
   yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
I will ponder all your work,
   and meditate on your mighty deeds.

-Psalm 77:11,12

 

 It is easy to focus on the hardship and difficulties that fill our headlines and our hearts.  But we do well to take to heart God’s command to reflect and remember all He has done for His people all that He has done for you and me.  Find comfort that constancy, stability, and faithfulness are found alone in Him. 

 

Want of trust is at the root of almost all our sins and all our weaknesses.  How shall we escape it but by looking to him and observing his faithfulness?  The man who holds God’s faithfulness will not be foolhardy or reckless, but he will be ready for every emergency.  Abraham held God’s faithfulness and offered up Isaac, “accounting that God was able to raise him…from the dead” (Hebrews 11:19, KJV)  Moses held God’s faithfulness and led the millions of Israel into the howling wilderness.  “and what shall I more say?”  for the time would fail me to tell” of those who, holding God’s faithfulness, had faith and by it “subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises…out of weakness were made strong.    -Hudson Taylor

 

Lord, lifter of our heads and hearts help us to gaze upon your beauty and reflect on your faithfulness.  Give us grateful hearts full of praise and thanksgiving.  Amen