SHOW MERCY...OR ELSE!

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

...because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

James 2:13

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

When I was in high level military leadership, it was important to realize that balance was important to the power and position I held. For while I did have the ability to execute judgment and discipline on others, I also had the platform to show grace and pardon and mercy, and I knew I would be assessed and evaluated as to how well I did both.

If I weighed heavier on the punishment side of things, I would be seen as heavy handed and drunk on the authority I had with no hesitation to go hard on someone when the opportunity presented itself.

On the other hand, if I refrained from holding people accountable when it was warranted, always letting people off the hook, I would be viewed as soft and a push over who was unwilling or incapable of upholding good order through the standards established by my military service branch.

In looking for a solid role model to base my leadership off of, I didn’t have to look beyond the Lord God Almighty, the only One who perfectly balances judgment and mercy in the way He rules and reigns over creation. And as we see in today’s scripture verse from James, chapter 2, the Word of God calls all Christian believers to follow God’s lead in these two key areas. Look again at his words here:

...because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. v. 13

Note here that all Jesus followers, whether the Hebrew Christians James was writing to in first century A.D. or Christians today, are expected to show mercy on others. In fact, the Lord is essentially demanding us to do the following:

“Show mercy...or else!”

What’s the “or else” part?

It’s Him exercising His judgment on all those who willingly choose to withhold mercy from someone else. That in its own right should be enough to get our attention because no one should willfully invite God’s judgment on themselves.

Listen, well before we get focused on God judging us for failing to show mercy, we should be keeping our eyes fixed on the cross where Jesus hung and died to pay for our sins. We deserved to suffer in His place but God, out of His deep mercy, sacrificed His one and only Son instead so that all who would place their belief in Him would be saved.

As Christians, neither you, me, or any other person who placed their trust in Jesus did anything to earn such an incredible, glorious gift. God provided it to us freely because He loved mankind so much and didn’t wish for everyone to perish (John 3:16). It truly is, as they say, amazing grace.

In today’s message, God is speaking to us through James and compelling us to show mercy to others as He has shown to us, showing us that mercy indeed does triumph over judgment.

Forgive others as God has forgiven you.

Show mercy as God has shown you mercy.

And freely exercise grace instead of judging others when you really have no right to judge, at least biblically speaking.

Do these things and God will never have to initiate the “or else” part of our verse for today. For only a fool would invite His consequences exacted without mercy, a totally frightening place to be, for sure.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.