Thirty days of thinking about mercy. I have been thinking about this subject more and more, as I should. I have noticed a marked increase in being conscious of a tenderness within.

I still have far to go. I know that some would see admitting this as a sign of weakness somehow. It doesn't matter to me as much anymore, but all the same, I am coming to realize that there is a strength in recognizing how far I am from perfect.

It is a strength that comes through character development. It is far easier to think I am doing well when I am not as well as I should or could be. Character development has to begin in truth. Truth known leads to clarity. Clarity opens awareness to what is yet needed.

Knowing what is needed is really freeing if I have a sense anywhere that it is attainable.

This journey is a journey of attainment. Seeking God in daily thinking about a concept in His Word. Believing that this thinking will lead to renewal. Trusting that there will be transformation through renewal of my mind.

Not so focused on my lack as on His ability to meet my lack once I am aware of it and submit it to Him for filling. Mercy has been a lack. Now I await His transforming power through living sacrifice.

"In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead," I Peter 1: 3

There are days when the idea of new birth and a living hope seem so far from reality that I am tempted to wonder about the whole thing. Kind of like living in Oregon in the middle of the winter when the rain has been my constant companion seemingly forever.

But, if I am trusting, He brings that hope to my heart at my greatest moment of need. Without fail, in mercy, His Holy Spirit offers the remembrance of the moment of new birth to my heart. And I am renewed. Re-energized. Revitalized.

My day is going to be spent in business meetings and an understanding of His mercy in birthing new hope to my life will come often to my mind because I will need it to.

"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4: 16

Because of the journey Jesus endured on this earth, He is able to sympathize with our weakness - because of His temptation, not because of His performance. He knows how I feel. He knows what I am going through. He understands my need of mercy, my lack of mercy and my desire to be a person of mercy.

Not only does He know what it feels like to be tempted like I am, He knows what it feels like to win over temptation, to follow God perfectly, to be a successful human. In His perfection, He is able to show me mercy in my weakness. Only His perfection and His sovereignty give Him the opportunity to deliver judgment or mercy.

Because of all this, I am told to approach the throne of God with confidence in His desire to meet my desire. As my desire seeks Him, His desire is to show me mercy. What hope that gives me as I look ahead!

Almost missed this one. My report for my boss due this morning was cooking along nicely last night until I accidentally hit the "X" and deleted 3 hours of work. Could have used some mercy about then.

Hebrews 2 says that Jesus "had to be made like His brothers in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people."

It is simply overwhelming to think that God needed Jesus to come, be made like us in every way, become our High Priest, and offer Himself up as the ultimate sacrifice. All of this for one purpose - to show mercy to sinful mankind and make us at one with Himself again.

I will take some time today to contemplate how much He gave up in splendor and ability to identify with me and my weaknesses. What love to offer, what grace to give, what kindness! Only a creator would have that depth of sacrificial love. As a parent I can get a glimpse of what that must be like. But I can only wonder at what it meant to God.

"... I was shown mercy because ..." I Timothy 1: 13

This is the line that was in my concordance. I got all excited when I saw this because I thought - here is a way to get mercy. I wanted to know what Paul says about why he was shown mercy.

So I turned to the verse and read, "Even though I was a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief."

I think even I could accomplish that! Ignorance and unbelief - the recipe for mercy. I look back on my 53 years and realize how often I have cooked with that recipe. The stories I could tell of the stupid things and damage done would only make the hearer amazed at the mercy of Jesus.

Verse 16 says, "But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on Him and have eternal life."

My part: to believe on Him - I can and will do that.

Verse 17 responds with the only thing you can say in the face of that display of mercy: "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen."