MercieSSS!

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,

Because His compassions fail not.

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

~Lamentations 3:22, 23

God's mercies are new every morning. What a wonderful assurance! But what happens if you've messed up plenty by the time you've had your first cup of coffee? If you're anything like me, that's not hard to do --especially before coffee! 

I used to wonder just how much God was willing to take. As though I'd broken Him in some way. And then He gave me other people. Not that those around me test every bit of forgiveness or mercy in me --quite the opposite; but if someone like me can forgive an offense, to what lengths will God go? Just how merciful is God?

The other day, a fig bar went missing from the counter in our kitchen. It belonged to our daughter who was still in bed. When I rounded the corner of my office, I heard a familiar crackling sound, the crackle of a fig bar wrapper. One of our other residents had made off with it after our discussion as to whom the fig bar belonged, a discussion which ended with, "Just leave it where it is, please." Confrontation. Not angry or accusatory, but investigative. Had I not made myself clear? Was there something that caused our hungry little caterpillar to think his actions would be acceptable? I removed the molested fig bar --not that the previous owner would now want it, but because of my concern over sugar intake --and we moved on. Or so I thought.

Later in the day, our fig bar fanatic's behavior had degenerated to tantrums and refusals. When confronted again, this time a little more sternly, I received an apology. Not for the tantrums. Not for the admitted disobedience. Not for the accusations that were made against me. I received an apology for the fig bar. The fig bar! This sweet young man had harbored his earlier misdeed for hours. One small infraction had derailed him for almost an entire day. 

It was then I wondered how often I allow things from the past to derail me. How many times have I silently confessed, I don't feel forgiven, and allowed that enslaved attitude to set my course for the day? How often have I allowed myself to be sucked in, back to who I used to be rather than who I am in Christ? How many times have I apologized to the Lord for my disobedience, when the real issue lies in my failure to trust Him at many levels? How many times have I outworn God's welcome, exhausted His mercies toward me?

God's mercies are new every morning, but they are not mercies in the sense that there is some predetermined, restricted number or quantity. God is infinite --in His goodness, His love, His peace, His faithfulness, His presence, His justice, and His mercy. The Hebrew word, hesed, sometimes translated as mercy, is said to be everlasting and extended toward thousands of generations. If we are seen by God through the blood of Jesus Christ, imagine the mercieSSS --ongoing, beyond measure --that are available to each one of us as God's children! We don't receive a new supply each morning because yesterdays have been exhausted; we receive mercies unique to that day, our daily bread, so to speak. The mercy shown for an irresistible fig bar cannot be applied to the mercy needed for a tantrum or a false accusation. Mercy is unique to the circumstance, but in God's economy, everlasting in scope and substance. 

So, take heart! If you have confessed with your mouth and believed in your heart that Jesus is Lord, your slate is clean, the bonds of sin have been broken, you are free to trust Him and to obey, and God's mercies --God's mercieSSS --are new toward you every morning!