Choosing MERCY Over Judgement

I carry a strong sense of justice inside of me. It's just a part of me. I see things as black and white. I acknowledge grey areas, but I don't see many. I can spot things fairly quickly and make a call on it. While this can be seen as a good thing, I need to be careful to not react in a spirit of judgment but rather, carry a heart of mercy in all situations.

Mercy and Judgement

…Mercy triumphs over judgment.

James 2:13

God's mercy is expressed by having pity, compassion, and kindness toward his people. Mercy is not something God owes us, but something the Lord extends in love by grace to those who do not deserve it.

Mercy and judgment met on the cross, and mercy triumphed. Sin was judged, but mercy won the day. Christ died for us and rescued us from our sins. He continues to extend mercy through the finished work of Jesus on the cross. Though we deserved death (eternal separation from our Heavenly Father), we are offered life and that more abundantly.

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions —it is by grace you have been saved.

Ephesians 2:4,5

Honestly, God's mercy is wonderfully shocking and goes beyond our understanding. It's a gift to us from God and is demonstrated with every breath we take.

While mercy triumphs over judgment, refusing mercy will eventually invite judgment. This is disastrous. God's judgment on sin is not unjust, for His judgment is always the result of mercy offered and refused.

When Jesus Chooses Mercy over Judgement

Jesus was the only person who rightfully and legally could have cast the first stone at the woman caught in adultery (John 8), but He didn't. But he did tell her, "go and leave your life of sin" (John 8:11).

When we experience the mercy of God, we gain a greater revelation of the love of God. Jesus chooses mercy over judgment to convey God's heart of compassion and love toward her. I believe this one act changed her life forever.

Choose Mercy

We have to be careful, in light of our current crisis, to be carriers and communicators of God's mercy. Do we genuinely carry the heart of the Lord's love and compassion to those who we feel oppose us and/or biblical principles?

Mercy doesn't mean we refuse to stand up for what is right and godly. Jesus declared truth in a hostile society, but He declared it with a heart of love and mercy, not hostility and vengeance.

Compassion does not ignore confrontation. Mercy doesn't look away from wrongdoing. We need to demonstrate the mercy and grace of the Lord in the midst of it.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Matthew 5:7

Mercy attracts mercy. The merciful are blessed because they demonstrate mercy. Let's make sure we carry God's merciful heart as we advance His gospel. For me, I need to ask God to give me the wisdom to do this well. Let's make sure we re-present Christ and choose today do live from a heart of mercy.

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