May 18 – The Tender Mercies of Christ

Hope for Today: A Daily Devotion from Reasons for Hope*Jesus

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“I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.” Psalm 109:22

“I know your … poverty (but you are rich).” Revelation 2:9

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 5:3

“The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek Him will praise the LORD. Let your heart live forever!” Psalm 22:26

“He heals the brokenhearted…. The LORD lifts up the humble.” Psalm 147:3, 6

“A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench, until He sends forth justice to victory.” Matthew 12:20

Such are the tender mercies of Christ toward the weakest of His people. He supplies them from time to time with all strength, until at last they are able to gain a complete victory. As soon, therefore, as we are sensible of our poverty or miserable condition and are desirous of grace and strength to overcome sin, evidencing that desire to be sincere by constant prayer, we have actually some grace and spiritual life and are delivered already from the jaws of Hell, for there is no such feeling in dead souls. And in Hell there is only a desire to be delivered from the punishment of sin, but not from sin itself.

My soul, bless God for quickening grace, which makes you feel your need. And then seek satisfying grace, even the water which Jesus gives, which shall be in you a well of living water, springing up into everlasting life.

Blessed are the humble souls that see
Their emptiness and poverty;
Treasures of grace to them are given,
And crowns of joy laid up in Heaven.

Blessed are the men of broken heart. 
Who mourn for sin with inward smart;
The blood of Christ divinely flows,
A healing balm for all their woes.

Devotion by Karl Heinrich von Bogatzky (1690—1774)