John 8:1-11, Ecclesiastes 3:22-23

According to the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary, mercy is “compassion or leniency shown to another especially an offender.” In mercy, God looks away from our sin, and chooses not to punish our sin, but instead offers love and grace.  By his mercy we are preserved, not as those who merit but as those to whom God offers his loving kindness in order to draw us to himself.  On account of his mercy, we are not destroyed; we are preserved.  “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Ecclesiastes 3:22-23).

When the Scribes and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery before Jesus, a few facts were true.  She had been caught in sin.  According to the Law, she was to be punished by stoning. What they had not thought about as they brought this woman to Jesus was their own sin.  They felt justified to accuse her and didn’t think for a moment that the Law applied to them too.   When Jesus called them out, making them to look into their own lives, their sin stared stark at them.  None could raise a stone against this woman even though she was a sinner. God’s mercy won.

What happens when God’s mercy is applied?

1. Since God’s mercy is clothed in loving kindness, God offers us a chance at Redemption.  On account of God’s mercy, Jesus died for us and gave us the gift of salvation. “.. but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
2. God understands our weakness and so offers us a second chance in life. “He knows what we are made of; he remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:14).
3. In his mercy, God defeats all the plans of the enemy on our behalf and we are able to live victorious lives with the victory that Jesus won for us and wins for us daily.  “And on that cross Christ freed himself from the power of the spiritual rulers and authorities; he made a public spectacle of them by leading them as captives in his victory procession” (Colossians 2:15).
4. On account of his mercy, God gave us a through pass to him. We have access to the Father and we can commune with him one on one.  “Since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. [...] Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:14, 16).

Knowing what God’s mercy has wrought for us, we have the opportunity to

1. Live guilt free because we are forgiven
2. Live strong because Jesus has won the victory for us
3. Live confident in God’s purpose for us because he gives us strength
4. Live boldly as those who have been accepted by the Father

There is nothing we can do earn God’s mercy.  None of us merits to have it.  He offers it to us for free.  He opens his arms to us to embrace his mercy.  He invites us to commune with him, as friend with friend.  In the hymn ‘I am Thine O Lord’, Fanny Crosby writes

O the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God,
I commune as friend with friend!

Are you in need of God’s forgiveness?  God’s mercy is available for you. May we embrace the mercy of God in 2026.