Who can appreciate the gift of mercy who has not first been confronted with guilt? I watched as they came into the court room. Their eyes were down cast, their hands and feet were shackled. One by one they came before the judge. With heads bowed they stood while all that they had done was exposed to the court. Because of their guilt they lost their liberty.
The pain was still in her voice as she remembered how hopeless she felt in her addiction. Night after night she wept begging God to release her from this thing that kept her captive. She wanted a clean heart but all she had to offer was a broken one. All she had to offer was her sorrow and regret. Who can appreciate the gift of mercy who has not first brought before the Lord the sacrifice of a broken spirit and known the bitterness of a broken and contrite heart?
He had chosen blindness rather than to acknowledge his guilt. But God sent Nathan the prophet to confront David about his sin. When his eyes were open and he realized that he could no longer hide he begged God to do for him what he could not do for himself. "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from my iniquity, and cleans me from my sin! "(Psalm 51:1, 2) It was only when David acknowledged his guilt that he could recieve the gift of mercy.
Who can appreciate the steadfast love of God who has not first acknowledged his own lack of love? Who can appreciate the grace of God who has not recognize his poverty? Who can begin to rest in God's great faithfulness who has not first seen his own unworthiness? Our great need simply opens our eyes to God's great gift of mercy.
Lord Jesus, you came to proclaim good news to the poor. You came to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, and to set at liberty those who are oppressed. Thank you for your gift of mercy.
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