God's Tender Mercies: Some Devotional Thoughts

Do you see God as a Father filled with tender mercies for His children? In our quest for truth, righteousness, and obedient commitment, we should never forget that God has pity on the just and the unjust--especially the just.

Richard Sibbes said in A.D. 1630:

Physicians, though they put their patients to much pain, will not destroy nature, but raise it up by degrees. Surgeons will lance and cut, but not dismember. A mother who has a sick and self-willed child will not therefore cast it away. And shall there be more mercy in the stream than in the spring? Shall we think there is more mercy in ourselves than in God who plants the affection of mercy in us?

From Genesis to Revelation, we can readily see God’s desire to favor mankind. Several verses came to mind as I meditated on this topic:

• Genesis 16:13 And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?

• 1 Kings 19:5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. 6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.

• Psalm 37:23-24 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

• John 21:9-10 9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. 10 Jesus saith unto them, "Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. " 11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, and hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. 12 Jesus saith unto them, "Come and dine."

• Romans 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

• Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

• Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Spurgeon reminds the Christian that “No saint shall fall finally or fatally. Sorrow may bring us to the earth, and death may bring us to the grave, but lower we cannot sink, and out of the lowest of all we shall arise to the highest of all. For the Lord upholdeth him with his hand....Even in our falls the Lord gives a measure of sustaining....It is not that the saints are strong, or wise, or meritorious, that therefore they rise after every fall, but because God is their helper...”

These hopeful words leads me to a few conclusions I like to share with people:

I. God knows our struggle against sin. Romans 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. ....24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord...

A. The Curse of the Law is Lifted.
B. God not merely chastens but conforms His children to Christlikeness.
C. There is no such thing as a perfect Christian--only growing Christians.


II. God knows our struggle against Satan. Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

III. God knows our struggle in being human. Psalm 103:13-14-- 13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. 14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

Apply this to your prayer life “A Christian complains he cannot pray. ‘Oh, I am troubled with so many distracting thoughts, and never more than now!’ But has he put into your heart a desire to pray? Then he will hear the desires of his own Spirit in you...God can pick sense out of a confused prayer. These desires cry louder in his ears than your sins.” - Richard Sibbes

SO WHAT?

1. Commit Yourself to this God.
2. Do not wait for perfection in yourself to step out for Him.
3. Do not wait for perfection in others to express love for them.
4. Be thankful you dwell in such a “land.” Breathe the free air.
5. Know that all of this is available to us through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.