God's Great Love
Scripture Reading — Ephesians 2:4-5
Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ …
Ephesians 2:4-5
The good news of the Bible is that God is rich in mercy. Mercy is compassion toward people who have willfully done wrong and deserve to be punished. “Rich in mercy” means that God demonstrates lots of it. That’s a huge comfort for people who know their own heart and can see that they need God’s mercy. The experience of receiving mercy gives us relief that goes beyond words. We were lost in sin and totally unable to get ourselves out of it. God’s mercy frees us in ways that only God can accomplish in us.
Paul writes that this mercy flows because of God’s “great love for us.” In other words, divine mercy doesn’t just spring from superficial kindness. The root of God’s mercy runs much deeper. This mercy flows from the heart of God. It flows from God’s love.
And what does this mercy do? It gives us new life! Paul writes that God “made us alive with Christ.” Here is God’s provision for a world in need of salvation.
But for God’s rich mercy to have meaning in our lives, it needs to be accepted and embraced. If you find it difficult to accept the mercy that God offers each one of us, pray for God’s Spirit to awaken you to the wonder of knowing this mercy in your own life. The Scriptures are clear about the good news of God’s great love for us and the richness of his mercy.
O merciful Lord, help us by the power of your Holy Spirit to trust in your great love and receive your rich mercy. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
About the author — Peter Borgdorff
Dr. Peter Borgdorff has been a pastor and administrator in the Christian Reformed Church for 40 years, most recently serving as executive director till his retirement in 2006. He and his wife, Janet, have five children and 14 grandchildren.
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