Primary Scripture: Lamentations 3:22–23
Big Idea:
We are not entering the new year because we earned it—we are entering it because God is merciful. That mercy is not tied to a calendar flip; it is anchored in the cross.
Introduction
- Midnight does not create mercy—it reveals it
- A new year does not cleanse sin
- Mercy does not come from time passing, but from Christ’s finished work
- We step into 2026 not because we deserve it, but because God allowed it
I. Another Year Wasn’t Promised—But It Was Given
- Some didn’t make it through the year; some of us barely did
- Life is fragile, breath is borrowed
- We are not guaranteed tomorrow
Key Scriptures:
- James 4:14 – Life is a mist, here briefly and then gone
- Acts 17:25 – God gives life, breath, and everything
- Lamentations 3:22 – God’s steadfast love never ceases; His mercy never ends
- Psalm 103:8 – God is merciful, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love
- Psalm 90:12 – Wisdom begins when we number our days
Key Truths:
- Survival is not luck, chance, or performance
- Every day lived was mercy given
- Time is a gift, not an entitlement
II. Mercy Doesn’t Wait for You to Deserve It
- Mercy does not show up after perfection
- We carry regrets, failures, drift, and missed opportunities
- God’s mercy is not recycled or reduced
Key Scriptures:
- Lamentations 3:23 – God’s mercies are new every morning
- Romans 5:8 – Christ died for us while we were still sinners
- Titus 3:5 – Salvation is by mercy, not righteous works
- Isaiah 1:18 – Scarlet sin made white through God’s cleansing
Key Truths:
- Mercy flows from God’s faithfulness, not our obedience
- Failure does not disqualify repentance
- Time does not forgive sin—God does
III. Mercy Has a Name—Jesus
- Mercy is not an idea or emotion—it is a Person
- Mercy does not ignore justice; it satisfies it
Key Scriptures:
- John 1:1 – Jesus is God from the beginning
- John 1:14 – The Word became flesh, full of grace and truth
- Isaiah 53:5 – Jesus bore our punishment for peace
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 – Christ took our sin so we could receive His righteousness
- Hebrews 9:12 – Jesus secured eternal redemption once for all
- Romans 8:1 – No condemnation for those in Christ
Key Truths:
- The cross is where mercy met justice
- Jesus did not sympathize only—He substituted
- Mercy is eternal because the sacrifice was final
IV. The Cross Will Be Lit—But Mercy Is Already Here
- The cross lighting is symbolic, not saving
- Forgiveness is not delayed until midnight
Key Scriptures:
- Isaiah 55:6 – Seek the Lord while He is near
- 2 Corinthians 6:2 – Now is the day of salvation
- James 4:8 – Draw near to God and He will draw near to you
- 1 John 1:9 – Confession brings forgiveness and cleansing
- Romans 8:38–39 – Nothing separates us from God’s love in Christ
Key Truths:
- Some need to return
- Some need to repent
- Some need to remember they are still held by grace
Closing Reflection
- Do not just mark time—mark mercy
- Mercy does not come from a fresh start, but a finished work
Key Scriptures:
- John 19:30 – “It is finished”
- Ephesians 2:8–9 – Salvation is by grace through faith
- Hebrews 10:14 – One sacrifice perfected believers for all time
Final Truth:
- Midnight doesn’t make you clean
- Jesus does