Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment

What Is Mercy?

As I dug deeper into understanding exactly what mercy means to me, I found some important elements in the full definition.

Mercy is not being punished when I deserve it—by someone who has the right to punish me.

The first part, not being punished, reassures me of God’s compassion. No matter how much I grow in Christ, until I get to heaven, I’m still going to fail. I’m going to disappoint my friends, my family, and my God. Bad things happen. Life moves takes me to into places I don’t want to go. I don’t always handle well what’s thrown at me. That’s why I’m grateful for God’s heart. It’s something I refuse to let myself take for granted. He loves me. No. Matter. What. I can’t say that about anyone else in my life, even those who care about me the most.

The second, when I deserve it, reminds me that mercy is for people who deserve to be punished. That’s me. And . . . wait for it . . . it’s you too. It’s pretty much all of us at one time or another, Christian or not. Good people aren’t perfect people. Perfection is reserved for God.

The third, by someone who has the right to punish me, was new for me. In order to show me mercy, someone must hold real power or authority over me. This puts God’s mercy exactly where it needs to be—in His control. God is my ultimate authority, and if you’re a Christian, He’s yours too.