A common reaction to impressive things or things that affect us is, “Lord, have mercy!” Unfortunately, we live in an age where little mercy is displayed in our daily affairs. One of Jesus’ complaints against the religious leaders of His day, was their lack of mercy towards the less-fortunate. Instead of seeing all of Israel as God’s chosen, they viewed themselves as separate from the common folk cloaked with a veil of protection from Him. To them, others were to remain in their “state” or social class. They saw themselves as being called of God to a higher standard…they were wrong.
When someone committed a sin, there was no compassion from the leaders. It was literally an “Off with his head” attitude. Last week they could have shared bread with you, as their neighbor, but today, you’d be blacklisted or stoned to death for transgressing the law or for blasphemy. There was only judgement and condemnation; no mercy extended to others.
Unfortunately, people and organizations still function under those principles. They want God’s mercy and their sins forgiven, but they don’t extend it to others. They become self-righteous; “holier-than-thou” people (Isaiah 65:5).
Do you extend mercy to others? Do you feel that God will understand you if you don’t? If you’re thinking serving God is just like any other religion, you’re incorrect. God is actually calling us to a “lower standard”-in a “humbling of spirit” way. Here’s what God will do to those who withhold mercy from others: “For judgement will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; but [to the one who has shown mercy] mercy triumphs [victoriously] over judgment” (James2:13). Meaning…???
In Christ, we have received mercy from God instead of His fiery judgment full of indignation. The people who don’t show mercy to others worthy of it or not, will experience God’s full-fledged judgement without any mercy whatsoever.
“Show mercy even when they don’t deserve it?” you ask. YES! Because we didn’t and don’t deserve any mercy either. “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
Consider Jesus’ illustration: “Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee that I am not like other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Luke 18:10-14).
Which man are you?
God Bless!
Sam