generational mercy
mullings from Luke 1
Every morning,
before devices bloop on,
before the revving of the calendared events,
I like reserving these quiet waking moments with God.
Sometimes I’ll read through an entire book in one sitting.
Sometimes I’ll mull over a small passage at a time.
Sometimes I’ll murmur aloud one verse over and over.
It took me a few months to finish Mark, and I loved it so much.
The narrative, the pacing, the clarity and compassion in which Jesus operated.
How He had a ministry of presence and a ministry of absence.
How He fasted and feasted and walked and talked.
How He prayed.
I wanted more, so I kept going into Luke.
One thing that struck me is how frequently mercy comes up, just in the first chapter.
v50 His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear him.
v54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy to Abraham and his descendants forever
v72 He has dealt mercifully with our ancestors and remembered his holy covenant
And in those exact same lines, how that mercy is directed toward generations of people.
God is patient with his mercy.
He is persevering enough to work across decades and centuries.
He is powerful enough to redeem generational cycles of sin and brokenness.
He loves us this much:
v78 Because of our God’s merciful compassion,
the dawn from on high will visit us
to shine on those who live in darkness
and the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.
🕯️
love,
reb