Things My Mother Taught Me | Show Mercy

For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:13

“Say you’re sorry!” How many times did you hear that as a child? If you’re a parent, you’ve said it yourself a handful of times. Our moms taught us that the issue isn’t over until we apologized for using Sister’s toothbrush. But there was another side to that mercy. We also had to forgive our little brother for putting a frog in our bath. Our mothers modeled mercy for us. She let us wake her at 2 am because we needed a hug. She forgave us and cleaned up our messes when we were sorry. Mom may not have known it, but she was instilling in us the ability to comprehend God’s mercy.

To show mercy means we forgive when we don’t have to. Mercy pardons the unpardonable and cleans up the messes. God is full of mercy and stands ready to forgive when we ask. But there’s a catch to it. We must let go of the sin we’re clinging to. Mom didn’t tolerate our grudging, “Sorry,” when we had every intention of using Sister’s toothbrush on the cat again. Mom’s repeated warnings were demonstrations of mercy, but mercy became judgment when we kept using her makeup to decorate the dog. She would have greatly preferred to shower us with mercy and watch us turn away from our foolishness. So would God. His mercy triumphed over judgment at the cross for those who believe. But if we persist in evil, judgment is all that is left.

Final Thought:  Are you more eager to show mercy or bring judgment when someone sins against you?

Prayer: Father, thank you that your mercy triumphed over the righteous judgment my sin deserves. Because Jesus took my judgment, I can now be shown mercy. May I live to show mercy to others like you’ve’ shown it to me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.