Have Mercy!
"And be kind to one another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, even as God in Christ
forgave you."
Ephesians 4: 32
There are several key words in the biblical lexicon that
are similar, but different. And their difference makes all
the difference! Justice means getting what we
deserve.
Mercy means not getting what we deserve. And grace
means getting what we don’t deserve. All have their
importance, and each has its place in our life.
Justice we leave to God, of course (Hebrews 10:30). Grace
we can generously dispense toward others. But mercy?
That
is a harder one. Remember: mercy means not giving someone
what they deserve. We've received mercy from God in that He
spared us from the punishment for our sins and punished His
Son instead.
What do we do when someone offends us and we feel they
deserve our reproach? We should do what God has done for
us, show mercy. Instead of dispensing judgment or vengeance,
we show love, forgiveness, and understanding. To be short, we
show mercy. Why? Because God has shown mercy toward us.
The next time you are impulsively or deliberately inclined
to judge or retaliate, remember to show mercy. Give to
others what God has given you.
"Tis God that justifies their souls, and mercy like
a mighty stream, o’er all their sins divinely rolls."
Isaac Watts
