Mercy live

December 20, 2006

By Randy Mantik

Do you remember a commercial from years ago that advertised Memorex recording tapes? In it, Ella Fitzgerald sings a jazz piece and hits a very high note at the end that shatters a glass goblet. Then they play back her performance on Memorex tape and once again a goblet shatters. The announcer intones, “Is it live or is it Memorex?”

God’s mercy is always a live performance! It’s always fresh, always new.

Mercy takes on many forms in our lives. We may not always recognize it, but it is there. I believe we are constantly swimming in a divinely glorious sea of God’s mercy, but it seems we don’t realize it until we find ourselves in need of mercy. Then we suddenly see it has been surrounding us all along, and by God’s grace He gives us all that we need.

King David once looked for someone to show kindness to from the household of his dear friend, Jonathan, who had been killed. David found a son of Jonathan, Mephibosheth, a cripple. Mephibosheth was unable to work. He could never repay David for anything the king might do for him. Yet David invited him to come live at the palace. “So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons” (2 Samuel 9:11, NIV).

What a poignant picture of what God does for us. We have nothing to offer Him in comparison with what He has to offer us. But our God, who is rich in love and mercy, asks us to come, in a sense, and sit at His table. Why? Simply so we can fellowship together, enjoying each other’s company. Mercy is God’s love expressed!

Sometimes we may feel we are unworthy to draw close to God and feast at His table in the circle of love and laughter the Father has prepared for us. Maybe so. But because of God’s great mercy we can draw near to Him.

“It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22,23, KJV).

God’s mercy — always live, immediate and fresh.

Randy Mantik is senior pastor of Crossroads Church of the Assemblies of God in Pembine, Wis.