AT
THE MERCY OF LOVE
By Pastor Jack Hayford
At your mercy.
The phrase
conjures up medieval images, doesn’t it? Picture a swordsman,
his weapon slapped from his hand, backed up against a wall with
his rival’s swordpoint against his throat...or see a breathless
maiden, hands spread outward in pleading helplessness as she spins
around and kneels in the center of the forest path along which she
has been fleeting her pursuers.
At your mercy.
It suggests uncertain destiny, possible death, or, at best, some
manner of enslavement.
It conveys an idea of an unpleasant, although preferable option—
...an alms, instead of nothing at all;
...a lease-on-life instead of death;
...an opportunity for ransom instead of permanent abduction.
It is something better than the worst, but not necessarily
good.
The mercy the Scriptures teach, however, is of another kind. It
is completely compassionate, entirely benevolent,
and it is totally paid for. Best of all, it is an absolute
trait of God Himself who is "rich in mercy" (Ephesians
2:4). Even the facts of my failure-deserving-judgement are met by
God’s mercy. Astoundingly, His great kindness manifest through
this trait of His nature makes it possible for righteousness and
peace to "kiss each other" (Psalm 85:10).
And as though that weren’t enough, Scripture tells us that
the Father’s mercy "endures forever!" (This is stated
dozens of times, and more than twenty all at once in one chapter
of the Bible—Psalm 136.)
With God, "mercy" isn’t an uncertain option, but
rather a divine certainty. It is guaranteed compassion. It is paid-in-full
forgiveness at the specific moment and point of need
(Hebrews 4:16).
In His wisdom, He frequently chooses to meet our needs by showing
His love toward us through the hands and hearts of others. We have
all been at the mercy of love—a love, which the "Father
of mercies" (2 Corinthians 1:3) has sired in our hearts. We
have been the helpless recipients of an outflow of merciful thoughtfulness
and kindness. We have been blessed beyond our capacities to produce
adequate words of thanksgiving to those who have prayed, cared,
called, given, cooked, helped, encouraged...and on and on.
His mercy has been great, and He has shown it to each of us. It
is wonderful to receive such mercy at the hand of one of His loving
children. It is more wonderful still to be the hand that touches
at the end of His arm that reaches.
That, too, is a privilege born of His mercy. |
Jack
Hayford Ministries
14800 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, CA 91405-2233