February 28

But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, — Eph 2:4 BSB

Mercy is perfectly suited to a sensible sinner. The riches of God’s mercy are especially fitting for those brought to a place of real extremity, where they see and feel their desperate need. They see how abundant God’s mercy must be—overflowing with grace—so that they might dare to hope for a saving interest in it, coming freely to them in their low and lost state. We come to know mercy before we come to know love. Though love is first in God, it is not first in our experience of Him. When we first feel our need for mercy, we don’t approach God thinking we are objects of His love. Rather, we come seeking mercy, as the apostle says, “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” (Heb. 4:16).

Mercy is the first thing we seek at the throne of grace, and once we have received it, we continually seek grace to help us in every need throughout life—until grace is swallowed up in glory. Wasn’t the tax collector’s simple plea in the temple, “God be merciful to me, a sinner”? This has been the heartfelt prayer of every person whose heart has been touched by God.