Merciful Savior
Ash Wednesday
Smile on me.
Save me with your mercy. ~ Psalm 31:16
Mary responded,
"Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed." ~ Luke 1:46-48 (NLT)
KEY IDEA:
Jesus is the Savior -- the expression of God's mercy.
PRAYER:
Thank you, God, for being the reliable Savior. You sent Jesus to rescue us. I'm so eager to accept your mercy but am slow to let it define my life. Help me to join you in smiling. I am going to seize every opportunity to acknowledge your mercy. Amen.
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
