You know what I'm talking about. You've been hurt, wronged and mistreated. Our first reaction is to retaliate, but wait...that's the flesh speaking! The spiritual man will be merciful! Listen to this passage of Scripture:
“‘Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’”—Matthew 18:33
Mercy is a gift. It is undeserved. Punishment and consequences are sin's just reward, but the merciful person does not demand justice for the guilty person.
- If it were not for God's mercy, we all would have faced His terrible judgment long ago.
- If not for His mercy, He would have condemned us after our first offense.
- If not for His mercy, He would punish us each time we sin.
Do you find it hard to show mercy? It may be that you do not comprehend the mercy that God has shown to you. Jesus commanded His disciples to extend the same mercy to others that they had received from God. When they considered the incredible, undeserved mercy they had been granted, how could they refuse to extend the same unconditional mercy to others?
- Could anyone sin against us to the same degree that we have sinned against God?
- Could any offense committed against us be as undeserved as the abuse hurled against the sinless Son of God?
- How quickly we forget the mercy that God graciously bestowed on us, only to focus on the injustices we endure from others!
If you find it difficult to forgive others, you may need to meditate on the mercy of God that prevents you from experiencing God's justifiable wrath. Scripture describes God as “Ready to pardon, / Gracious and merciful, / Slow to anger, / Abundant in lovingkindness” (Neh. 9:17b).
Action item for today: SHOW MERCY!
