Extended Mercy

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE

EXTENDED MERCY

Luke 1:46-55

46 And Mary said:

"My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me — holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his forever, even as he said to our fathers."

NIV

There is no question that Mary was blessed beyond all other humans because of the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit upon her as a virgin she was with child, and not just any child, but the Savior of the world, the Son of God, Jesus. The Mighty One has done a great thing for Mary, and we too can say holy is his name. Yes, of course, for what happened to Mary, but also, on a personal level, because His mercy has been extended to us who fear him. It is interesting the Greek word phebeo has the direct meaning of to take flight, to be frightened, to be alarmed, however, it also is used to be in awe of, i.e., reveres. With the first meaning, we can see the English word phobia which we use for an extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something. Indeed, this is not the use of the word for “those who fear Him”. We who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, do not have an irrational fear or aversion to Jesus. However, we do stand in awe and revere Him with all our inner being. We have already received his mercy in the person of Jesus Christ, for He is the mercy of God. Still, we have also received mercy, or compassion over and over again, for He has forgiven our sins, past, present, and future. However, all that compassion is still wrapped up in the Holy One of God, Jesus. For it was His blood that was shed for our sins. He was His resurrection that gives us the hope of our resurrection. God is also continually showing us mercy, as Jesus constantly intercedes for us before the throne of God. Without the mercy of God, our lives would still be in the pit, which is only a shorter version of a grave. In other words, without the mercy of God, we would be dead men walking. God has also given us the Holy Spirit for several reasons, however, in the context, the Spirit within us confirms the mercy of God that has been extended to us who revere His holy name. We can live in peace with God, enjoying all His many blessings in our lives, filled with contentment, satisfaction, fulfillment, and all the joy of the Lord, because of His mercy being extended to us.