Daily Devotional For Sunday, December 15, 2024
The Christmas word for today is MERCY. We often think of God’s mercy more at Easter than at Christmas. While Jesus’ mercy was deeply shown to us by His death on the cross, it is also seen in the birth of Jesus. From the very beginning, God revealed that He was sending His mercy into the world through Jesus. You can hear it in two of the songs that were sung that first Christmas.
When we think of Christmas songs, we think of carols like “Silent Night” or “Joy to the World.” Long before these, those who were in the midst of the first Christmas sang songs to express their joy and worship. Mary sang about God’s mercy in her song, and Zechariah sang about it in his prophetic song. Mary’s song of worship is the most familiar of all of those on the first Christmas. We call it “The Magnificat” based on the Latin for the word “magnify” that begins the song. Magnify the Lord with me. In Luke 1:50 she sings these words, “He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear Him (NLT). The NASB puts it this way: “And His mercy is upon generation after generation toward those who fear Him.”
As Mary sings about mercy, she looks not just at herself, but at every generation. She’s looking back to all the generations that are before her. God has shown His mercy by sending the promised Messiah to save His people. She also is looking forward to all the generations to follow. The mercy of God has been poured out on all mankind. When we think about mercy we often think about how it relates to us personally. We’re grateful for God’s amazing forgiveness and grace in our lives. Mary reminds us to then think beyond ourselves. There is not a generation in history to which God is not willing to show His mercy. There is not a person created to whom God is not willing to show His mercy!
Mary sings that this mercy is shown “to those who fear Him.” Fearing God does not mean you’re frightened of God. That would make you want to avoid Him. It means you are living your life based on an awareness of God’s awesome power and love. This is what draws you to his mercy. Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, also sang about God’s mercy in his prophetic song. Look at Luke 1:78-79, “Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace (NLT).
The phrase “tender mercy” captures our attention. There was a movie based on these words made in the 1980s. Titled, “Tender Mercies,” the movie tells the story of Mac, a country singer who gradually is drawn into the mercy of God’s forgiveness through Christ. The movie earned five academy award nominations and a best actor award for Robert Duvall, much because there is no more compelling or powerful story than the story of God’s mercy.
Think of how He showed His tender mercy to you; gradually showing you the way of forgiveness, overlooking your sin and pride, never giving up on you. If you are a parent, think of how He is doing this in the lives of your children day by day. When we accept this gift of His mercy, Zechariah tells us that it is the light of heaven breaking upon our hearts. God gives us light no matter what darkness has been in our lives and guidance for the life of peace that He has planned for us.
So what will you do about this wonderful mercy of God today? Romans 12:1 tells us what to do, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is your true and proper worship (NIV). Because God has been merciful to you, you are set free to serve and worship Him today. Let the joyful song of mercy sing through your life today.
Questions To Consider
- Christmas and Advent is about us expecting the coming mercy of God through His son, Jesus. Considering that very first Christmas and the conditions Jesus was born into – a dirty, stinking stable for farm animals; placed in an animal feeding trough (manger); no midwife to help with the delivery, how was God merciful to Mary, Joseph and us?
- Mary sang that God shows His mercy to every single generation. How do you think He does that today in our own generation?
- Why do you think we tend to think of the mercy of God more at Easter than at Christmas?
- If you have children or grandchildren, when and where have you shown them mercy? Share that with them and connect that to God’s mercy to us.
Scripture To Meditate On: 1 Peter 1:3-4, “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by His great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, (4) and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay” (NLT).
Prayer To Pray: “Father, thank You for Your tender mercy. Thank You that You never give up on me; that You are always leading me to places of forgiveness and grace. Because of that grace, forgiveness, and mercy, I offer myself to You today. I want this day to be an expression of my love for You. I pray that You will lead me to love the people that You put in my path today. I love You Jesus. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”
I love you Southside!--Pastor Kelly