Enjoy Life, Enjoy God

MERCY

December 27, 2010

In this Christmas afterglow we hear the word "mercy." Christmas, the Christ-centered connection, is among other things about mercy.

May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.
                                                    - 2 Timothy 1:16 TNIV

Faithfulness for Paul does not breed the trappings of success but chains. He does not have a quiver full of friends, but is largely alone. Yet, not completely. He still has a few friends who care for him in spite of Paul being in a bad strait. And he prays for mercy for his friends.

God's mercy is to show compassion and leniency on people. Paul prays for special mercy on his friend, oh-na-SIF-o-rus. When the baby Jesus slept in the Bethlehem cradle, few knew the drama of God's mercy for you and me was taking place. Let us all be people of mercy to one another. It's at the core of the good news, and the Christmas message.

Joyfully,

Dale Patterson