Lyrics
For what we have done, and left undone,
We fall on Your countless mercies.
For sins that are known, and those unknown,
We call on Your name so holy.
For envy and pride, for closing our eyes;
For scorning our very neighbor.
In thought, word and deed,
We've failed You, our King;
How deeply we need a Savior.
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy,
Lord have mercy on us.
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy,
Lord have mercy on us.
For what You have done, Your life of love,
You perfectly lived, we praise You.
Though tempted and tried, You fixed Your eyes;
You finished the work God gave You.
And there on the tree, a King among thieves,
You bled for a world's betrayal.
You loved to the end, our merciful friend;
How pure and forever faithful.
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy,
Lord have mercy on us.
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy,
Lord have mercy on us.
For hearts that are cold, for seizing control;
For scorning our very Maker.
In thought, word and deed,
We've failed You, our King;
How deeply we need a Savior.
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy,
Lord have mercy on us.
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy,
Lord have mercy on us.
Devotional Thought
If through grace we receive from our God that which is undeserved (His love, patience, kindness, compassion), then it is through mercy that we don't receive that which is deserved (punishment for our sins). If we are honest, there is little else that we deserve. Thankfully, we have a Heavenly Father who, out of His love for us, sent His Son to die on the cross and save us from our sin. Christ is our Savior. And, as the writers of this hymn reiterate—we deeply need a Savior.
Even though Christ has already saved us from the eternal consequences of sin, our fight against sin and the evil one continues. And as our sinning continues, so does our need for mercy. If there's anything that we need to humbly plead for from the Lord, it's mercy—"for what we have done, and left undone; for sins that are known, and those unknown."
We've needed His mercy from the beginning, we'll need it in the end, and we need it each day in between. May our daily plea be, "Christ, have mercy."
Corresponding Psalms for Study and Reflection
Psalm 103:8-12
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 94:17,18
Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul would soon have settled in silence. If I say, "my foot slips," Your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up.
Psalm 86:5
For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.
Psalm 13:5,6
But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me.
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