September 26

to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace. — Luke 1:79 BSB

What moved the Father to send his own Son into the world? It was the free mercy of God, flowing from his heart toward his people. What merit or claim can we, his family, ever have? Our misery is our only claim. Our worthlessness, our low condition, our deep fall—these are what call forth God’s compassion. It’s not about what I have done for God’s glory, not what I am doing or trying to do, not my wisdom, my strength, my resolutions, my piety, or my holiness. No! It’s my misery, my helplessness, my worthlessness, and my fallen condition that qualify me to receive God’s mercy. And I feel this only because of my saving interest in the blood and love of the Lamb. This is what makes me seek God’s mercy and enables me to go to him through Jesus to receive it. For “he is able to save completely those who come to God through him.”

Are you sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, far from the way of peace, troubled, perplexed, confused, and struggling? You are the very ones Jesus came for. Are there not unutterable mercies locked in the heart of God for you? What could keep you away? Your sins? No! God has pardoned them. Your worthlessness? No! There is a robe of righteousness prepared for you. Your failures? No! The merits of Jesus are on your side. Your unholiness? No! “He is made to you sanctification.” Your ignorance? No! “He is made to you wisdom.” These are not barriers. What is a barrier? Self-righteousness, self-esteem, pride, hypocrisy, presumption, a form of godliness without power, and being comfortable in your religion—these are the barriers.

But helplessness, hopelessness, worthlessness, and misery—these are not barriers; they are qualifications. They show, when felt, that your name is in the book of life, that the Lord of life and glory came into this world for you. Sooner or later, you will experience the sweetness of this truth in your heart, and then you will adore him for his grace, bless his name, and praise him for glorifying his love and mercy in your free and full salvation.