But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:4-7
After his conversion at a revival meeting in Kentucky, Thomas Chisholm gave up his career as a teacher and newspaper editor for the work of God. He served as a pastor until poor health forced him to resign his pulpit. But he never stopped writing. During his ninety-three years of life, Chisholm wrote more than 1,200 poems, many of which were set to music and became great favorites in the church, including “The Mercies of God.”
The mercies of God! what a theme for my song,
Oh! I never could number them o’er;
They’re more than the stars in the heavenly dome,
Or the sands of the wave-beaten shore.
For mercies so great, what return can I make?
For mercies so constant and sure?
I’ll love Him, I’ll serve Him with all that I have
As long as my life shall endure.
If God were not patient and merciful, none of us would have any hope of coming to Him. Compared to His holiness and perfection, our sin is revolting. Yet rather than allowing us to receive what we deserve, God’s mercy placed our sins on Jesus and removed the penalty of sin we rightfully deserve.Â
The beautiful thing about God’s mercy is that it never runs out. “It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, Because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: Great is thy faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). Every morning a new supply is provided for us, and we should never lose the hope that knowing we have been adopted into His family through that mercy.
