THE GOD WHO DELIGHTS IN MERCY
Mercy is not merely something God does. It is something God loves. The Scriptures pull back the veil and show us the very heartbeat of the Almighty, and to our astonishment we discover that He delights in forgiving the guilty. He rejoices to restore the broken. Micah declares with bold clarity, “Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity… He delights in mercy” (Micah 7:18). When the world grows cold and our hearts grow weary, it is a healing balm to remember that mercy springs from the very nature of our God. He never tires of lifting sinners who cry out for His grace.
This holy delight is seen most clearly in Jesus Christ. Every step He took on earth was a revelation of the mercy of God. He touched those society refused to touch. He welcomed those religious men refused to welcome. He spoke graciously to the woman caught in sin, the blind beggar beside the road, and the thief dying beside Him. He delighted in showing compassion because He came to reveal the Father’s heart. “The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do” (John 5:19). In Jesus, mercy walks, speaks, and saves.
And this mercy is not thin, fragile, or fleeting. It is strong enough to bury our sins in the deepest sea. Micah continues, saying that God “will again have compassion on us” and “cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19). This is not reluctant forgiveness. This is triumphant forgiveness. The Lord does not keep our failures in a drawer to pull out later when He is displeased with us. He casts them away forever, placing them where even memory cannot retrieve them. In this mercy we find rest, confidence, and holy courage.
Because God delights in mercy, we need not hide from Him when we fall. Adam hid in the trees, but we have a Savior who invites us to run into His arms. The devil whispers that God is tired of us, weary of our weakness, disgusted by our repeated failures. But the Bible tells a different story. The prodigal was met with a father running to him. The publican walked home justified. The woman who wept at Jesus’ feet heard, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Mercy always meets the repentant with joy.
Therefore, let this truth steady your soul today. Let it soften your prayers and brighten your faith. The God who saved you delights in showing mercy to you still. He is not near the end of His patience. He is not reluctant to forgive. He is the God who rejoices to redeem, restore, and renew. Come to Him freely. Come to Him honestly. Come to Him again and again. He delights to have you near.
Lord Jesus, thank You for the mercy that flows from Your heart like a mighty river. Thank You that You rejoice to forgive, to cleanse, and to restore. Draw me near today and wash me in Your kindness. Shape my steps, my thoughts, and my words so that Your mercy is seen in me. Keep me close to Your heart, where fear is silenced and grace abounds. Amen.
BDD
