I wonder when Robert Robinson penned the words to Come Thou Fount if he ever thought, “I bet 266 years from now some 40 something year old woman is going to be sitting at her kitchen table contemplating these lyrics while snacking on Townhouse crackers.” Probably not. But regardless, here I am, munching away and thinking about those glorious lyrics: Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.
Sometimes I find it hard to believe that God never runs out of mercy for His children. And more personally, that He never runs out of mercy for me. Yet, from the beginning of it all, He has done nothing but heap His steadfast love upon His rebellious creation. Garments of skin in the garden for those who first rejected His authority; manna and water in the wilderness- along with shoes and clothing that never wore out- for those who grumbled about His provision; a lasting covenant with a king guilty of adultery and murder; and restoration for a people who had been exiled for their idolatry. Streams of mercy, indeed.
But for all of these streams, the ultimate mercy was displayed at the cross. The cross, a permanent reminder that the only sacrifice able to pardon our debt was the sinless sacrifice of Christ. He in our place, taking the punishment we rightly deserved. Who could have imagined such a mercy? That God would make a way of entrance into His kingdom for a world full of commandment breakers? Even so, this is the infinite mercy of God.
Sometimes I make the mistake of believing that God is stingy with His mercy- as if the stream He gives is but a trickle in a dried up river bed rather than the constant rush of Niagra Falls. As Robert Law stated, “The love of Calvary is an ever-flowing fountain.” This fountain reminds us that we are loved and redeemed children of God and heirs with Christ.
And yet, His mercies keep on rolling. Romans 8:32 says, “He who did not spare His own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” This is an argument from the greater to the lesser: if He did not withhold Christ, why would He withhold what is needed for our good and growth in godliness? Truly, He supplies all that is needed to make us more like His Son.
The mercies of God have showed up in my life many times and in many ways. Most importantly, in my salvation from a young age. I do not take this for granted and praise God that I have not known a life without Him! Daily, His mercies have looked like protection from harm and blessings in the form of family, a loving spouse, children, and brothers and sisters in Christ. Of course, His mercies have also shown up in the form of trials. While I may not have recognized them as mercies at the time, I can see now how they were used in my sanctification. All of these undeserved mercies are a reminder that my strength is found in the living water of Christ and His Spirit. They are an unrelenting encouragement to turn to His stream rather than broken cisterns that can hold no water (Jeremiah 2:13).
What’s more, I know there will be abundant mercies yet to come. How do I know this? Lamentations 3:21-23 assures us that the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, that His mercies are new every morning. Streams of mercy never ceasing… what an unbelievably beautiful promise. This is the basis of our hope in the present as well as for the future! Because we know He has given us the best mercy of all, we can be confident that He will provide us with the daily mercies He knows we need. I pray we will return again and again to this truth, so that above all, our hearts will continuously call for songs of loudest praise.
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