Mercy
May 21, 2016
READ: Ephesians 2:4-7
I love the words that someone wrote, “Justice is when you get what you deserve. Mercy is when you don’t get what you deserve. Grace is when you get what you don’t deserve.” We don’t mind when justice comes to others, but for ourselves we want mercy. Mercy can be viewed from several angles, and one of those angles is forgiveness. Forgiveness flows out of mercy. Think about a time when someone has wronged you. Satan would have you to think that they should pay you back for what they did—they owe you. But instead, you realize that you have been guilty of the same thing or at least that you are not perfect either, so you have compassion on that person. You forgive them. You show mercy. You have given them something they did not deserve. This is what Jesus has done for us on the cross. Today’s scripture explains the role of mercy in our life. God had mercy on us and provided a way of salvation when we were doing wrong. God shows us compassion and mercy by not giving us what we deserve for our sins. When was the last time you thought of this mercy of God? What is your response to God’s saving you? Where do you need to show a little mercy toward someone else?
I love the words that someone wrote, “Justice is when you get what you deserve. Mercy is when you don’t get what you deserve. Grace is when you get what you don’t deserve.” We don’t mind when justice comes to others, but for ourselves we want mercy. Mercy can be viewed from several angles, and one of those angles is forgiveness. Forgiveness flows out of mercy. Think about a time when someone has wronged you. Satan would have you to think that they should pay you back for what they did—they owe you. But instead, you realize that you have been guilty of the same thing or at least that you are not perfect either, so you have compassion on that person. You forgive them. You show mercy. You have given them something they did not deserve. This is what Jesus has done for us on the cross. Today’s scripture explains the role of mercy in our life. God had mercy on us and provided a way of salvation when we were doing wrong. God shows us compassion and mercy by not giving us what we deserve for our sins. When was the last time you thought of this mercy of God? What is your response to God’s saving you? Where do you need to show a little mercy toward someone else?