Mercy: God Knows We Need It

Last updated on: November 15, 2017 at 10:09 am by John Mark N. Reynolds

Mercy: God Knows We Need It 2017-11-15T10:09:35-04:00 John Mark N. Reynolds

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

photo-1458588540036-39028c41de9e_opt Mercy softens justice for the rest of us.

There may be saints out there after all, but if you are not one, then you hope and pray for mercy.

I hope and pray for mercy.

We have forgotten something. To be fit for mercy, we do not merely have to wish for mercy, any guilty person does, but be fit for mercy.

What does that mean?

We must be sorry. We must be heading in a new direction and make ammends where we can. Nobody ever deserves mercy, we cannot deserve anything other than justice. However, false mercy can be injustice. This happens when we say “that’s ok” to a person who is not sorry, is not changing, or avoids restitution (where it is possible). An error like this destroys mercy, because enablers are not merciful. We pervert “judge not” into a hope that if we judge nobody for anything then we will not be judged for our misdoings. That’s societal anarchy pretending to be mercy.

Still we hurt friends, spouses, neighbors and we are sorry. A word comes out of our mouths (“More of that and divorce would be better. . . “) that is hurtful and cannot be taken back: sorry is not enough. Is there room for mercy? God knows.

Nobody can demand mercy or be angry if it is not given. We plead, beg, long for mercy, but can only wait and see what is best. The pastor who badgers a person into “forgiveness” is badly wrong. Forgiveness is a gift mostly to the person granting forgiveness. When I have been hurt, as we all are, then eventually “letting go” bitterness and hatred is good for our soul. That does not mean saying hard, bad things are good: never.

Instead, forgiveness says: “This was bad. I have gone forward. You have no power, not even negative power over me.” This is great news for the perp, but that not why the action is done. Forgiveness is a mighty boon to the person hurt and then, only then, an unmerited blessing to the sinner.

Grace cannot be demanded. Mercy is not a power move, but a gift. If you are like I am, then you hope for mercy and are working on granting forgiveness. Both are mighty instruments of healing, go read Jane Eyre for details, and bring hope this darkling world.

God help me, but I pray daily: Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me a sinner. We release (as we can) what has been done to us and hope to God that others can release what we have done to them. We trust that as we forgive, so we will be forgiven.

Mercy. Justice.

God help us.

Spiritual Reflections

Previous Post

November 7, 2017

We Meant Well: The Millions Dead Were an Excess of Enthusiasm

Next Post

November 9, 2017 The Danger of Advocacy Scholarship

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Apologetics Art Culture Education On Books On Education Philosophy Politics Pop Culture Spiritual Reflections Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 July 2025 June 2025 September 2024 July 2024 June 2024 December 2023 June 2023 September 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who is the oldest man in the Bible?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Methuselah Enoch Jared Noah

Books by This Author John Mark Reynolds

See All Titles »