But What About Mercy?

People are quick to point out, "God is merciful." And "Why can't you let him have a second chance?" The question comes from a misunderstanding of what mercy is. Unfortunately, there are those who believe that no one should suffer --ever!

God's mercy contains two elements:

1. An inward concern for the miserable plight of someone.
2. An outward action aimed at relieving that desparate condition even at great expense to the one relieving the suffering.

We see this kind of compassion in Christ as He responded to the various plights of people in the Gospels: the leper who needed to be healed; a widow's son who just died; a crowd of hungry people; two blind men who needed their sight restored. Christ's compassion always extended beyond their physical condition however to the greatest misery of all -- a soul bond by sin.

Christ challenged his disciples to reach the lost with the Gospel. We too must be moved with compassion when we wee the dire state of the condemned lost.

--Excerpts from "Changed in His Image" by Jim Berg.

[This is our biblical example of God's mercy toward the suffering needs of others and the lost soul that is condemned to hell already. If he does not trust Christ as his personal Saviour it says in John 3:18, "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." It is so important for us that we do our part in giving out the gospel. We may not always reap a lost soul to Christ. God says we are to plant and water with the seed of His Word. It is God's job to give the increase.

There is more to be considered on the subject of mercy that I will share next time.]