Showing mercy is hard in this world. It goes against much of our nature. We as humans want justice and punishment for acts of evil, cruelty, violence, and all the in between. Even small things, if someone cuts us off in traffic – we secretly hope a copper saw them and pulls them over. It’s hard to NOT want what we think someone deserves to happen to them. But showing mercy is vital to our walk as christians and an important part of our life’s purpose.

Mercy is not giving or doing the punishment or response to someone for their bad acts. Instead, we cut them a break and forgive them.

Why is mercy so important?

Simple. God shows us mercy every single day. He is patient with us as we repeated disappoint Him with our sins. He doesn’t punish us swiftly. Instead, He holds back His justice. God showed us mercy by sending Jesus to die for our sins so we could have an escape mechanism for His justice. Jesus paid the price for what we’ve done so that God’s justice would be appeased.

So, in return God requires us to live a merciful life. To show others the mercy He shows us daily. To hold back our swift judgments and harsh mouths, and be patient and kind toward others as He is with us. James tells us “Judgment with not mercy is waiting for the one who shows no mercy. Mercy triumphs judgment (James 2).”

There is only one perfect judge and it isn’t us. So, instead of trying to fill God’s shoes and take care of His business, we should live a life that highlights God’s mercy. We’ve found mercy in Christ and therefore we must extend mercy to others so they have find Christ’s mercy too.

So, show mercy – even when it’s hard and especially when you don’t want to. Let God handle the rest.

God has called us to be merciful and He had promised us if we live a life of mercy He will show us mercy in the end.

Live a life of mercy.

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