I have often wondered what was meant when someone would say, “that person has the gift of mercy.”  Mercy, defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.  Someone with the gift of mercy desires to see you flourish and be redeemed.  They desire to extend second chances and to create an environment to help others experience goodness and restoration.  Someone who extends mercy, forgives compassionately.  This is done instead of seeking justice or punishment.   A judge or a police officer are two examples we regularly encounter that have this kind of power.

How often do you find yourself NOT getting the consequences you deserve?  My lead foot while driving is the first thing that pops to my mind.  I honestly should have a lot of speeding tickets, but I have never received one.  I have been pulled over twice, but both times the officer was merciful to my plight and let me go without even a written warning.  Yet, I still find my lead foot to be an issue.  The problem is not an attitude so much as it is the lack of discipline.  I am not rebelling.  I am not speeding intentionally.  It just happens when I lose focus and my mind wanders.  However, it does not change what the outcome could be.  Consequently, it could end with fines, incarceration, injury, or even death. 

Applying the mercy God offers me every morning is a rather humbling position to accept. Yet by choice, it is my mental position when I rise.  I cannot live life under the regime of shame, guilt, and condemnation when I have the presence of the Living God eagerly awaiting my first moments of the day.  In the moments that I spend with Him, I have surrendered to the discipline of the Holy Spirit and thus I awake refreshed and joyful.  Not because of anything I did or can do, only because of the presence of Christ in me.  All authority in heaven and earth are mine because of Christ in me; so it behooves me to bask in His mercies and ask Him to speak through me, mercifully, to others.  Can you think of one way to extend mercy in your life today?  Is there one person who knows exactly what buttons to push?  Or how about the cashier who is seeming to have a bad day?  The mail clerk?  Your pharmacist or doctor?  The receptionist at your doctor’s office?  You can create an environment of mercy with a smile, by being patient, or with a kind word.  Let His mercy flow through you and touch others!

The next time you do not get the consequences your actions deserve, remember that it was the result of mercy extended to you.  The ultimate act of mercy was done at the time of salvation.  Christ died to pay the penalty of all mankind’s sin.  We deserve death because the wages of our sin is death.  But God, being rich in mercy and grace, gave up His only Son so that whoever believes in the name of Jesus will be saved.  Grace being the unmerited gift we have done nothing to receive, and mercy being the very act of not getting what we deserve. Meaning, we get heaven instead of hell, if we receive Jesus as Lord of our life and surrender it all to Him!  How much more should we live extending mercy to others?

It is my prayer that we live knowing the price paid for our souls and extend the same mercy to all whom we reach. For His mercies are new every morning!  He never stops loving us!

Joyfully Healing From the Inside Out,