How important is mercy?
Webster defines mercy as “kind or forgiving treatment of someone who could be treated harshly.” To the one who is indebted, guilty, or seeking forgiveness, mercy is of great importance.
How important is it that mercy is a part of God’s character?
Throughout Scripture, mercy is present. God told Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion” (Exodus 33:19). Several of the psalmists’ writings are described as “prayers for mercy.” Luke explains that it is “because of the tender mercy of our God” (1:78) that we will be visited by the Sunrise from on high. The gospel writers tell stories of those seeking Jesus’ help, and they often began their cry to Him with a plea for mercy. Paul encourages believers not to lose heart, because we have received mercy in our ministries. He also explains that God is “rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us” (Ephesians 2:5) In his letter to Timothy, Paul writes that we find mercy so that Christ’s perfect patience with us may be demonstrated. God’s people are instructed in Hebrews to “draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (4:16).”
If our God were not merciful, seeking His mercy would be pointless. If we did not have the mercy of God upon us, we would know only His wrath and His judgment. Condemnation would be ours. Yet He is a merciful God. Loving. Forgiving. Slow to anger. Faithful. True. We live our days needing God’s hand of mercy upon us.
We have the opportunity to show mercy in our horizontal relationships as well. When we consider what we have been given—the incredible gift of mercy from a Holy God who chooses to look upon His Son and pardon us—how can we not show mercy to our fellow man? When we live lives focused vertically, our horizontal realities align beautifully in blessing.
Lord, let me be a woman of great compassion and mercy this day, for You have been most merciful to me.
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