God's Judgment Or God's Mercy?
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesAccording to the dictionary, the term “mercy” is defined as: “compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one’s power” or “the discretionary power of a judge to pardon someone or to mitigate punishment, esp. to send to prison rather than invoke the death penalty” or “an act of kindness, compassion, or favor.”
God is the greatest example of mercy because Jesus said of Him:
“Be merciful just as your Father also is merciful” (Luke 6:36; cf. Romans 11).
Thomas Binney, an English Congregationalist of the 19th century stated regarding mercy:
“Mercy hath but its name from misery, and is no other thing than to lay another’s misery to heart.”
Let’s ask ourselves, “Is there some way in which we can make someone’s day brighter?” Then we need to do it, if it’s in our power (Proverbs 3:27; cf. Gal. 6:10). It doesn’t matter who the other person is — whether close friend or vicious enemy — just make certain that his or her life is better because he or she has come in contact with us.
Just as the Samaritan helped a man who might have called him a “dog” (Luke 10:30-37; cf. Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30), let’s be a blessing to all who need help (James 2:14-17; 1 John 3:14-18).
Remember the words of Jesus:
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy” (Matthew 5:7 ESV; cf. James 2:12-13).
The story is told of a godly person becoming gravely ill and was upon his death bed. A close friend who was visiting to give encouragement to the man said, “You are going to receive the reward of your labors,” to which the man replied, “Then I am going to receive mercy.”
As we stand before the God of heaven on judgment day, would we rather receive God’s judgment or God’s mercy?
To ask the question, is to answer the question.