When we sin against someone else, we have an entirely different approach. We are driven by a sense of mercy. We expect people to cut us a certain amount of slack, since, after all, only bitter, judgmental people get uptight about the little things, right? We forget that we ourselves are often uptight about the little things.
Jesus said to take that mercy-driven mind we have when we offend and apply it to the times when we are offended. “Do to others as you would have them do to you,” He said (Luke 6:31). The sense of fairness we have when we are wronged was assumed by God Himself and poured out on the crucified Jesus. We Are No Longer Entitled To It. He declared once for all that justice is His, not ours. We are left only with mercy. And thank God for that. It’s all we need.
“Mercy triumphs over judgment!” (James 2:13)
God’s judgment is the natural result of His righteousness. It is integral to His character. But His mercy exceeds His justice. Only God could have conceived of a plan to exercise judgment in such a merciful way. In condemning our sins, He laid them all on His own flesh and took the condemnation Himself. His judgment is undergirded by grace.
God tells us to be like Him. As His followers, if we are to have His mind and be steeped in His wisdom, we must let our own mercy triumph over our indignation. God has given us sure footing for grace and none at all for judgment.
The next time we need someone to cut us some slack and forgive us, let’s make note of the feeling. Let’s savor it and cultivate it. Then let’s bring that feeling to mind the next time we are outraged at another’s fault. In doing so, we will apply mercy’s victory to our own heart. And we will better understand God’s.
Have a mercy-filled weekend. Make it better by worshiping The LORD with those who know His heart intimately because they are aware of how often they have offended it but are even more aware how faithfully they’ve been forgiven.
All For Jesus – Nothing More, Nothing Less, Nothing Else.
Vic Alvarado 