new church life: november/december 2014
of help is regarded with love or charity.” (Ibid. 3063)
This does not negate the need for change, because it is also true that the
Lord’s mercy is not received by us until we get rid of what stands in the way.
As with the child having a bad day, the Lord can work with us to prompt us
to wiser decisions that don’t cause hurt. As one of the passages we’ve just
referenced concludes: “The Lord’s mercy is universal, that is, is directed toward
all people, and is also particular toward those who refrain from evils.” (Ibid.
8307)
So we return to Psalm 136 and the psalmist’s great gratitude for the Lord’s
mercy. For ourselves, our thanksgiving to the Lord can be inspired when we
realize how He regards us. He sees all that is good, and all that is self-serving,
and He loves us anyway. Not only that, but He works with us in long-suffering
ways to mend those hurtful parts of us, so that we are less apt in the future to
cause pain to others and experience sadness ourselves.
It is this full way that we receive the Lord’s mercy into our lives that can
inspire our deepest gratitude to Him. “[To Him] who remembered us in our
lowly state…, and rescued us from our enemies… O give thanks to the God of
heaven, for His mercy endures forever.” (Psalm 136:23,24,26)
520