After spending most of my time at LTF today in the Tabernacle, tonight I moved to the Cross/Communion area. The one word I could not get out of my head was “Mercy.” The following passage came to mind.

“For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”(Titus 3:3-7 NKJV)

According to Unger’s Bible Dictionary, “mercy” is defined as: “a form of love determined by the state or condition of its objects. Their state is one of suffering and need, while they may be unworthy or ill-deserving. Mercy is, at once the disposition of love respecting such, and the kindly ministry of love for their relief.”

That passage so vividly describes our former state that opened the door for mercy. When Christ’s blood was offered on the mercy seat in heaven and the veil was torn, as the old Phillips, Craig and Dean song said: “Mercy came running like a prisoner set set free; past all my failures to the point of my need. When the sin that I carried was all I could see and I could not reach mercy, mercy came running to me.”

No matter how much “righteousness” we do and no matter how hard we try, we could never save ourselves. Our salvation is entirely dependent on God recognizing the condition of man and having mercy on us by allowing His own Son to do everything on our behalf. Amazing.

Because of that mercy he bestowed on us, we can eat the bread and drink the cup as heirs of the hope of eternal life. As you eat this Holy meal this week, visit the cross where Christ’s blood was spilled and poured on the mercy seat of heaven. Let Him wash you clean again and renew you by the Holy Spirit remembering where you once were and thank Him for where you are now – all because of mercy.