2 Corinthians 1:3 (ESV)
³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,

No words could better summarize the wonderful compassion of God than “the Father of mercies.” The Pulpit Commentary says about this, “This corresponds to a Hebrew expression, and means that compassionateness is the most characteristic attribute of God.”

Jonathan Edwards, in “The Works of Jonathan Edwards,” graphically described the mercy of God: “God is pleased to show mercy to His enemies, according to His own sovereign pleasure. Though He is infinitely above all and stands in no need of creatures; yet He is graciously pleased to take a merciful notice of poor worms in the dust.”

Blogger Tim Challies said, “Mercy is not something God owes to us—by definition mercy cannot be owed—but is something God extends in kindness and grace to those who do not deserve it.”

The greatest demonstration of God’s mercy came to us when we were saved by obeying the gospel of Christ. When we came to Jesus by faith and obedience, every sin we ever committed, eve-ry wayward thought or misspoken word was immediately forgiven by God. The moment we came out of the waters of baptism, we were new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), appearing be-fore God like newborn babes who had never sinned. What made this possible? The mercy of God.

What mercy was shown to mankind when Jesus died on the cross, providing the soul-cleansing blood that could restore man’s relationship with God! Sadly, the majority of people have rejected Jesus Christ, turning the mercy of God away (John 1:10-11). But, for those of us who have received Christ, we were given the power to become children of God (John 1:12-13). Did we de-serve this restoration of our souls? No, it came only by the mercy of God.

Titus 3:4-5 (ESV)
⁴ But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

The great thing for those of us who are Christians is that the mercy of God is a gift that keeps on giving. God’s mercy appears to us anew every time we sin, repent of that sin, and ask God for forgiveness.

1 John 1:7 (ESV)
⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

This is the merciful aspect of the gospel of Christ. The blood of Christ continues to wash away our sins, as long as we do our part. John said, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (ver. 9). Because of the mercy of God, we do not have to worry that we are not good enough to be saved because our salvation is not based on our perfection, but on the mercy of God.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.