Tender Mercy

In my study this morning I read something I wanted to share. May you too be reminded today that you are God's passion and His tender mercy is fresh for us today and every day.

Luke 1:78-79:

Because of the tender mercy of our God,

by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.

The Greek word for tender is splagchnon, meaning, figuratively, "the inward parts indicating the breast or heart as the seat of emotions and passions." The original word for mercy is eleos, meaning "mercy, compassion, active pity ... special and immediate regard to the misery which is the consequence of sin."

God is many things: a ruling God, a righteous God, a judging God, a holy God. He is also a feeling God. Please meditate on the depth of feeling portrayed through the words tender mercy. He feels for us - not only when we are innocent victims of a depraved world. He also feels for us when we are drowning in misery as a consequence of our own sin. He who knows no sin feels for us who do.

God possesses active pity - He not only feels for us, but also He does something about it. God throws out the Lifeline to every soul drowning in the consequences of sin - we have only to be willing to grab on for dear life.

Taken from Jesus the One and Only pg 25.