Mercy ...
... The available sources to define that word are numerous in worldly exposition. And the meanings among them are somewhat convoluted as one might expect in today's society. In general though, they deal with a common theme: Forgiveness.
"Mercynoun, plural mer·cies for 4, 5.
1. compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence:
2. the disposition to be compassionate or forbearing.
3. the discretionary power of a judge to pardon someone or to mitigate punishment, especially to send to prison rather than invoke the death penalty.
4.an act of kindness, compassion, or favor:
5. something that gives evidence of divine favor; blessing."
There's not one soul alive on planet earth that isn't in need of mercy, but in the confluence of human emotion and activity in today's societies, the mercy to be found between us seems to be in limited supply in a fast moving, disconnected society.
Some might question my use of the word disconnected since there are so many ways people can connect with each other these days, but the connections that matter the most are being bypassed in favor of hasty greetings, flyby comments and sour invective instead. Many are largely disconnected from personal matters of the heart because they take time, may require compassion, empathy or something else from us - Things we might not feel compelled to give due to the time required by other demands, fears, or our own needs. It's a tragic state of disconnectedness and a corruption of priorities. God's priorities.
For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." Hosea 6:6 (NKJ)
Jesus was sinless. He went down accused of sin that He wasn't guilty of (ours) and He didn't speak in His own defense but remained silent in order that He might be convicted in our place of our own criminality against God. He rose up alive again - victorious after suffering our own death sentence so that all might recognize Him as God. After having done so, He now lives, inviting us to live through Him the intended life that never dies at the day of eternal judgment - He brought us the opportunity to receive mercy.
Jesus' entire life of thirty three years on earth (that's a lot of time) was a mission centered on one priority - the hope of God to deliver mercy... to you and to me.
In fact, God's priority all along in this great and wondrous effort of creation was people - creating family and relating to them, making them His people, His family. It's so clearly spelled out in scripture that we're called to emulate Him - by relating to Him, to His people, His family... and to show mercy because He's taken so much time (His plan from the beginning of time) and made such great effort to show mercy to us. The price that Jesus paid to deliver the mercy that we required from the Father is humanly unimaginable. How we emulate that in our daily lives should be should be at the top of our priority list and can only be accomplished by taking time and making the "sacrifice" to make real connections.
I confess that I wrestle with those same elements of time and priorities - and I don't always get it right. But when the Lord brings it to my attention, I ask again for His help to realign my priorities with His - to accomplish His priorities: people ... and mercy. This is His focus... and it should be ours continually. It takes effort and time. It can sometimes be gritty and it may even go against what we might be otherwise compelled to do, but I thank God that He was willing to personally suffer - even horrifically... for us. To show kindness, compassion and forgiveness - mercy, shouldn't be out of character for us as God's children... because it's our Father's character.
Lord, have mercy on me for my own failures and help me to show that same mercy to those that I cross paths with in a way that conforms to the priorities of your heart and in a way that brings you glory.
"No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8 (NLT)
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