God's Mercy

Chuckle: "After receiving the proofs of a portrait, a politician was very angry with the photographer. He stormed back to the photographer and arrived with these angry words: 'This picture does not do me justice!' The photographer replied, 'Sir, with a face like yours, you don't need justice, you need mercy!' "

Quote: "Two works of mercy set a man free: forgive and you will be forgiven, and give and you will receive." --St Augustine of Hippo

GOD'S MERCY

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions. . ." (Ephesians 2:4-5 NIV).

Mercy is a special gift of God to each of us. In its simplest form, mercy is not receiving what one deserves. It is withholding the administration of harsh justice because of God's love and grace. There is nothing we can do to merit God's mercy; rather it is a product of God's loving and forgiving nature. Like grace, mercy is completely unearned and undeserved.

The story has been told of a mother who sought from Napoleon the pardon of her son. The emperor said it was the man's second offense, and justice demanded his death. "I don't ask for justice," said the mother, "I plead for mercy." "But," said the emperor, "he does not deserve mercy." "Sir," cried the mother, "it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and mercy is all I ask." "Well, then," said the emperor, "I will show mercy." And her son was saved.

Mercy is the outward manifestation of pity and compassion; it assumes a need on the part of the one receiving it, and resources adequate to meet the need on the part of the one who shows mercy. God shows pity on us because of our sinful condition about which we can do nothing on our own, and he has provided a way of salvation through faith in Christ. Hebrews 4:16 tells us we should pray boldly for God's mercy: "So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it."

Often mercy and peace are found together in Scripture. When this happens, mercy is usually listed first. Mercy is the act of God, peace is the resulting experience in our hearts. Another way to define Mercy is to feel sympathy with the misery of another person, and especially that type of sympathy that is manifested by action to help that person.

"Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, and you say, 'Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well' -- but you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, it isn't enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn't show itself by good deeds is no faith at all -- it is dead and useless" (James 2:15-17 NLT). Mercy is never deserved. If you find yourself having difficulty in granting forgiveness and mercy to others, please take a moment to reflect on God's mercy which has been granted to you.

Love, Jerry & Dotse