“The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.”  (Genesis 3:21)

After God put Adam in the Garden of Eden to work and take care of it, he instructed him, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” (Genesis 3:16-17) 

We all know the story — the serpent enticed Eve to take fruit from the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil who gave some to Adam and they both ate of it.  As a result of their disobedience, they were removed from the Garden of Eden.  But as the above verse mentions, even in their disobedience God in his mercy and love provided clothing for them.   

Our God is a merciful God, and Jesus brought mercy to all whom he encountered.  Jesus tells us, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Matthew 6:36) Because of his great love and mercy Jesus healed the blind beggar, Bartimaeus, raised Jarius’ daughter to life, healed the cripple lowered through the roof by his friends, opened the ears of a deaf mute, made a leper clean, and demonstrated his love to countless others.

My family and I have experienced God’s mercy in many ways over the years.  To mention just one example.  Two years ago, I experienced a recurrence of my prostate cancer after 15 years from the initial surgery and treatment.  The radiation oncologist recommended 38 sessions of proton radiation, five days a week over the course of seven and a half weeks.  Through God’s mercy I experienced absolutely no side effects during the entire period or thereafter. 

I praise God for his love and mercy to me and my family.  He is forever faithful. 

How have you experienced God’s love and mercy?