Meditations on Mercy
Understanding frailty, weakness, and humility.
If your friends and family were asked if you are a person of mercy, what would they say? Is your sense of justice greater than your sense of mercy? Are you humble when someone tries to reconcile with you?
If you’ve never been in a situation where you had to ask for mercy, you should count yourself blessed, cause that means you're perfect! I’m convinced it is from this lowly position that we first begin to understand true humility. When we come to a place where we can look closely at our failings and weaknesses, then we’ve just leaned into seeing how much mercy we all truly need.
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8
So, what does mercy look like? Well, it looks like helping those around you who are hurting. It looks like bridging the gap with people we have differences with. It’s being patient with others, giving people the benefit of the doubt instead of jumping into defense mode, and giving people a second chance. It’s being kind despite offenses, and it’s doing good even to those who have hurt you.
Does this mean personal responsibility shouldn’t be a factor? Absolutely not. But, more often than not, our situation asks us to err on the side of mercy. Being a person of mercy means holding relationships higher than rules or opinions.
It is mercy, not justice or courage, or even heroism, that alone can defeat evil.
Peter Kreeft
While thinking about situations where we ask for or receive mercy, I’m always reminded that every day we wake up, breathe, and walk this earth, it is a grand grace! And part of that mercy and grace for me is knowing Jesus Christ is my personal savior. It only takes a moment for me to realize just how fragile I am as a human. Without the overabundant mercy of God over my life, I would have no strength or worth of my own. I’m eternally grateful for that grace and how it allowed me to see myself and the world differently. It brought purpose and deep meaning to my life that I had never experienced before walking with God, bringing me so much joy!
When we really think about it, every single good thing we experience is a grace from God, and if we are willing to ask for God’s mercy, we become trophies of His grace. And that is something to celebrate!!
When you think of people of mercy, who do you think of in your life and why? Why does our world need to experience more mercy? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.