The Mercies of Christ
As I sit to write our weekly blog for you all, I’m reminded of one of my favorite hymns by Martin Luther, From the Depths of Woe. Hear these soulful words of his rooted deeply in Psalm 130:
“From the depths of woe, I raise to thee the voice of lamentation.
Lord, turn a gracious ear to me, and hear my supplication.
If thou iniquities dost mark, our secret sins, and misdeeds dark,
Oh, who shall stand before thee?”
Many of you know that Luther was a man who felt the weight of his sin on a regular basis. Feeling oftentimes crippled with the overwhelming power of sin, he wrestled with his own salvation. How could it be that he should be chosen by God, who knew him better than anyone? And yet, the Spirit continuously comforted Luther that he had been baptized into Christ Jesus. There was no other Helper, save the Savior of Sinners himself. There was no other Righteous One who had secured and provided sheer mercy to daily attend him.
Dwelling upon the glories of Christ in the gospel, Luther then wrote these words which followed:
“Therefore, my trust is in the Lord, and not in my own merit.
On him, my soul shall rest. His word supports my fainting spirit.
His promised mercy is my fort, my comfort, and my sweet support.
I’ll wait for it with patience.”
Like Luther, whose life was one of soul searching and gospel declaration, the Apostle Paul’s own ministry began in Acts 9 with deep, soul searching. The blindingly glorious light of Christ met him in the darkest moment of his sinful waywardness on that road to Demascus. And for three days he was so awestruck by his sin against the Lord, that he would have starved himself to death if not for God’s gracious intervention at the hands of Ananias just days later. Saul spent a three-day-long journey of the soul, much like Jonah in the belly of the great fish. He was convicted of his sin and dead to himself. But praise God that he sends others like Ananias to Saul, to point us to Christ in times such as these.
Perhaps you see yourself in Ananias’ position in relation to someone you care about. They may be wading in the waters of discouragement without showing obvious signs of it. Or perhaps they are carrying such a heavy load and you feel incapable of helping them shoulder it. But if you have known the grace of God in Christ, you are more qualified than you think to come alongside them in love.
Would you consider then how—and when—you might intentionally speak to them of God’s love for them? Pray for the opportunity, and God will surely provide it in his way. As Luther's words remind us:
“Though great our sins and sore our woes, his grace much more aboundeth. His helping love no limit knows. Our utmost need it soundeth. Our Shepherd good and true is he, who will at last his Israel free from all their sin and sorrow.”
In Christ,
Rich
