The Merciful Life

Mercy is one of the most misunderstood words in the Christian life. It is not simply feeling sorry for someone or performing random acts of kindness. Biblical mercy moves from sympathy into action, pursuing people the way Jesus pursued them throughout His ministry. There is an important distinction between justice, mercy, and grace: justice is getting what you deserve, mercy is not getting what you deserve, and grace is receiving what you could never deserve. All three meet at the cross. Showing mercy does not mean ignoring sin or avoiding hard conversations. It means caring enough about someone to help them move closer to God. The mercy God has shown us is meant to change the way we treat others.