Let Mercy Triumphfeatured

I was reflecting on God’s mercy the other day.  It was through His extravagant mercy that He sacrificed His Son to an excruciating death, so that I could have eternal life.  I don’t deserve His mercy, because I don’t live a perfect life.  In His mercy, He decided His Son take would take the punishment for all of my sins so that I would not have to endure that punishment. 
 Ephesians 2: 4-5 says, “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—it is by grace you have been saved.”  What a gift!  What a blessing!

Jesus was very clear that as recipients of God’s mercy we are to show mercy.  In the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18: 21-35), Jesus tell of the master who had shown mercy to a servant who had in turn showed no mercy to someone who had wronged him.  The master says to the unmerciful servant, “Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?”  That is Jesus’ question to us!

Why is it when I am wronged in some way that I am often stingy with my mercy?  As I reflected on this, it really boils down to two issues. 

First, I like to play judge and jury.  Can anyone else relate?  It doesn’t have to be an egregious wrong for me to want to judge!  I am particularly fond of playing judge in the pettiest of situations!  My inflated sense of justice calls me to declare someone else wrong (which of course makes me right!).  I want them to acknowledge their wrongdoing, apologize, and perhaps suffer just a little.  In my righteous indignation, I totally forget what Jesus said in Matthew 7: 1, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”  Jesus takes it further in Matthew 6:14 when He says, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”  Not only am I not to judge, I am to forgive them too – sigh!

God is the only one who is fit to judge those who might wrong me.  He knows their heart, I don’t.  He completely understands their circumstances, I don’t.  I am not God, even though I try to act like I am.

The first issue is caused by the second issue which really is the heart of the matter.  When I don’t show mercy, I am focused on me.  I am not focused on God and His truth.  I am not focused on the other person and what they might be feeling or dealing with (other than me!).  When it comes down to it, most of my sin is driven by me focusing on me, me, me.

James 2:13 says, “…Mercy triumphs over judgement.”  As a Christian, I am called to imitate Christ and sacrifice myself for the other person.  I am to sacrifice my self-absorption and my flawed sense of justice, and freely show mercy whenever I am wronged.  This is an unnatural act and against all my natural instincts!

How in the world do I accomplish it?  I just have to access the power that is already within me.  The Holy Spirit is ready willing and able and longing to be busy providing wisdom for each situation I face.  James 3:17 says, “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”

Those are adjectives that I would like to be associated with me!  I am praying that whenever I am feeling wronged, I will ask the Holy Spirit to help me let mercy triumph! [jetpack_subscription_form]