March 21, Mercy

Today’s reading: Psalms 101-105

“He does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities” – Psalm 103:10.

Our God is a God of mercy. You cannot earn, presume upon, or understand His mercy. You can only thank Him for it, never fully realizing the reason why He chooses to bestow mercy as graciously and as often as He does. His merciful heart is revealed in His encounter with the woman caught in adultery, to whom He said: “Jesus straightened up and asked her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir,’ she said. ‘Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin’” (John 8:11-12). Some have believed they should sin more so that His mercy would be revealed more — which is simply foolishness — but even more have either felt like they must try to do something to earn His mercy or have actually rejected His mercy, refusing to forgive themselves for a wrong done or mistake made. How do you respond to God’s mercy? Do you thank Him for it, realizing He is not obligated to give it but does out of His love? Do you in return grant mercy to others in response to His mercy toward you?

 

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