James chapter Two: verses 12-13 (NIV)
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Romans Chapter 6: verse 23 (NIV)
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Today in our Junior Church lesson with the younger children we spoke of Israel’s desire to have a king just like the countries round about them. God had said He wanted them to stand out and be different from other countries. He wanted them to take their direction from Him and not from a king. But the people persisted and God allowed them to have their king. But He warned them there would be consequences to their actions. I asked the children to tell me of times where they had perhaps got their way but then had to face the consequences of their actions. Some of the things were simple, like eating too many sweets and then not being able to eat their dinner. They got the message. Israel didn’t and subsequently faced the consequences of her actions. They went into captivity for their long-term disregard of the ways of God. Yet God showed the people His mercy and brought them back to the land of promise. In our turn He showed us mercy by accepting the blood of Jesus as payment for our sin. The Bible says that the wages of sin is death. That is God’s right and proper judgement. But Jesus showed us mercy by taking that punishment.
God wants us also to show mercy. But that can be done even in the face of right and proper judgement. If someone breaks the law and receives the right and proper punishment for it, we then show mercy by not holding it against them once their punishment has been served. If an ex-offender comes into fellowship with us, we must treat them in the same manner that we would treat anyone else.
If we warn a child of consequences to their disobedience – for example that they will be grounded and not allowed out to play with their friends for a week. If they disregard that warning and we implement that judgement then that is just, but we wouldn’t ignore them, or neglect them over the incident. Neither should we hark back to it once the period of grounding is complete. We need to make sure that they know that they are loved in spite of their actions. If we are ill-treated or hurt by someone, we show mercy to them by not bearing a grudge in turn. We may be justified in seeking retribution for their actions but we show mercy by giving the matter to God and letting Him deal with it.
Dear Lord,
You have been merciful when we did not deserve it, therefore we have no reason to withhold mercy to anyone else. Help me to be quick to extend that mercy when it is within my means to do so. I ask in Jesus’ name. AMEN.