Posts: Mercy

Mercy

“Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’” (Matthew 9:13) The Mosaic sacrificial system was about celebrating forgiveness with family and friends in the presence of God. Jesus reminded the Pharisees that they had become stuck on frequent forgiveness rather than trying to solve the problem that led to the need for the sacrifice. Mercy is one step beyond compassion, incorporating an intense desire to fix the problem. Celebrating forgiveness is nice; cutting back on the need for forgiveness is better.

“Go home to your friends and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.” (Mark 5:19) Jesus said this to the man from whom He had cast out a legion of demons. The faithful are in much the same situation. The Spirit that God has placed in them provides the power to overcome. This man to whom Jesus spoke had a remarkable transformation. The faithful should as well, just as dramatically and just as obviously. Go home and tell your friends.

“Should you not also have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?” (Matthew 18:33) In the parable of the ungrateful debtor, the one whose insurmountable debt recently had been cancelled did not do the same for someone who owed him about three month’s wages. Sometimes the faithful lose sight of their own debt which Jesus paid not only because it was truly insurmountable but also because numbers that big lose their meaning. But a debt of several thousand dollars we understand. Seeing the connection requires renewed character, not a course in economics.

“[You] have neglected the weightier matters of the Law: justice and mercy and faith.” (Matthew 23:23) Justice is not enforcement but rather doing what is right. Mercy does not set aside justice but rather seeks to fix what caused the problem. Faith does not sit back but rather charges ahead with full confidence that God will provide as promised. The trick is to know what is right, what caused the original problem, and what God actually promised.

After telling the parable of the good Samaritan, Jesus asked, “Which was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” The lawyer replied, “He who showed mercy on him.” (Luke 10:37) I am reminded of a song by Three Dog Night titled “Easy to be Hard.” Google it. Compassion is easy because the problem is at arm’s length. Mercy compels us to find and fix the root of the problem on a personal level. Mercy may cost money, but we cannot just throw money at it and stay safely separate. Mercy means getting dirty and being a friend.

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” (James 3:17) Purity is efficient; impurity is wasteful. The uncontentious build; conflict destroys. Gentleness wins over; harshness drives away. Reason finds common ground; illogic has no platform. Mercy fixes problems; compassion only joins in misery. Wisdom yields fruit; philosophy yields theory. Impartiality serves all; victimhood turns inward. Sincerity is transparent; hidden agendas cloud thinking. Wisdom from above works.

“Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest…” (Hebrews 2:17) Certainly mercy and faithfulness are two of the character traits of God. Part of the reason for God coming to earth was to demonstrate that He understood the fears and demands of life and the importance of trust. From verse 15, one of the fixes (mercy) was release from the bondage incurred through fear of death, and that Jesus’ defeat of death implies that we can do it, too, through trust in His promises.

“…he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who shares, in simplicity; he whom leads, in enthusiasm; he who shows mercy, in cheerfulness.” (Romans 12:8) These gifts, which differ according to the grace given us (12:6), all seem to fit with their descriptors except the last: cheerful mercy (beyond compassion, incorporating an unquenchable desire to fix what caused the original problem). Perhaps Paul was reminded of the many people whose troubles were self-induced. Be cheerful in the fixing, not aggravated at how they got there.

“Therefore, since we have this ministry, corresponding to the mercy we have received, we do not lose heart.” (2 Corinthians 4:1) The “we” in that sentence represents all the faithful, not just Paul and Timothy. What keeps us going when spreading the gospel can be so frustrating? Paul puts the recollection of mercy (our transformation orchestrated by the Spirit in 3:18) at the top of the list. God had an overwhelming desire to fix what ailed us, so He gave the faithful the Spirit for character development. That certainty keeps us going.

“For as you [Gentile Christians] were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their [unbelieving Jews] disobedience, even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.” (Romans 11:30 – 32) Redemption happened once for all. The ultimate act of mercy is the gift of the Spirit to the faithful, fixing the root of the problem: character development. Seeing it happen brings others in.

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.” (Ephesians 2:4 – 5) Another facet of God’s mercy, in addition to supplying the Spirit for character development, is reconnection. In this context, the “dead” are those whose spirits are separated from God; those “alive” are connected, which also is called fellowship: a merging of spirits. Of course, redemption was a necessary first step, but repair and relinking enable family success.

“Formerly being a blasphemer, a persecutor, and insolent, but I obtained mercy because, being ignorant, I did it in unbelief.” (1 Timothy 1:13) Many have stayed away from the gospel because of their histories, assuming that past choices would disqualify them. Paul pointed out that one of the reasons why God felt compelled (mercy) to remove Paul’s obstacle was that he pled guilty to chronic stupidity. The answers we needed may have been within reach, but we did not have the sense to look. When God makes it painfully clear, grasp the opportunity.

“But, because of this I was shown mercy, that in me, the foremost [of sinners], Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe upon Him into everlasting life.” (1 Timothy 1:16) God could have chosen anyone to take the gospel to the Gentiles. One of the reasons He chose Saul of Tarsus (Paul) was as an example to future generations that you are never too damaged or too late to be fixed (shown mercy). Trust that He can and He will.

“But when the kindness and the love of mankind appeared, of our Savior, God, … according to His mercy He saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit whom He poured out upon us abundantly …” (Titus 3:4 – 6) In this short paragraph, three facets of God’s compulsion to fix what we have done to ourselves (mercy) are listed. Jesus motivated us with God’s kindness and love; He illustrated to us through immersion the promise of new life; and He poured the Holy Spirit into the faithful to accomplish character development.

“For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” (James 2:13) The common English definition of mercy includes the idea of the suspension of justice, which creates a conflict between God’s characteristics of mercy and justice. In James’ day, mercy was a compelling desire to fix the problems of another, which may be health-related, or financial, or judicial. Mercy triumphs over justice because mercy fixes the problem, removing the potential for judgment. Fix the problems of others and you will be fixed.

“…who once were not a people but now are the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” (1 Peter 2:10) Hosea, about 750 BC, predicted the doom of Israel, but not permanently. Both Peter and Paul confirmed that the reinstatement was in the eternal kingdom, the church. But how can they have hope of not utterly failing again? Before, despite fantastic miracles and prophets, the people soon turned away. The difference this time is that the faithful receive the indwelling Spirit who repairs self-induced damage, which is mercy.

“Keep yourselves in the love of God, anticipating the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ into eternal life. And on those who are doubting, have mercy.” (Jude 21 – 22) For those to whom eternal life is important, the prospect of failure can be debilitating. Jude’s prescription is three-fold: live inside the love of God that has been poured out in the hearts of the faithful (Romans 5:5); confidently expect character repair (mercy); and feel compelled to dispel the creeping self-doubts of others. Life with God is a team sport.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy, having begotten us again into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ out of the dead, into an inheritance imperishable and undefiled and unfading, being reserved in heaven into you, who in the power of God are being guarded through faith into salvation ready to be revealed in the last opportunity.” (1 Peter 1:3 – 5) God’s mercy (repair) is embodied in the rebirth of the faithful with the proof of the resurrection and the power to overcome.

“He has helped His servant Israel, remembering mercy, exactly as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His seed forever.” (Luke 1:54 – 55) One of the ways God uses to fix our deficiencies (mercy) has been and continues to be through His promises. Those lacking an understanding of history or those victimized by revisionist history (we did not invent the practice) have empty hopes and pre-doomed goals with only outrage and calumny for defense. Knowledge of reality leads inexorably to evidentiary hope, peaceful trust, and selfless concern.

“To make ready the mercy arising from our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to our father Abraham.” (Luke 1:72 – 73) Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, prophesied concerning the task of his son. The promise to Abraham that the Messiah would be his descendant (Genesis 12:3) is categorized as mercy, a compelling desire to fix the self-induced damage to the characters of the faithful. Jesus’ interactions on earth demonstrated the harmony of godly traits. The Spirit later was given to enhance our transformation into Him.

“… that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy…” (Romans 15:9) Not all non-Jews became Christians, but people of every nation extolled the character of God for coming to earth to display how a consistent collection of positive traits works, and for providing the power of the Spirit to reverse self-inflicted heart wounds. Those who were convinced of the power and nature of God through observing creation (1:20) and understood the buy-out of justice for all through Jesus’ sacrifice (3:24 – 25), still needed repair (mercy) to break the cycle of failure.

“The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains; but when he arrived in Rome, earnestly he sought and found me. The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day. And you know very well how many ways he served in Ephesus.” (2 Timothy 1:16 – 18) Faithful people like Onesiphorus often have difficulties in life, either due to their faith or simply because of the chaos of life on earth. Paul prayed that he get a break from those troubles. For whom do you pray?

“Let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace into help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16) One of the characteristics of Biblical faith is a confident expectation of acceptability. Therefore, the faithful pray boldly for repairs to the parts of their characters that are holding them back (mercy), certain that such renewing power will be applied graciously with the objective of building the same godly character in each one.

“‘I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.’ So then it is not of him who desires, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.” (Romans 9:15 – 16) Paul cited God’s words from Exodus 33:19 which was just before parading His character traits (showing His glory) to Moses. The point in both cases is the same; no one can obligate God into fixing our self-induced problems. Yet, He does, based on His perspective, His objectives, and His character.

“Therefore He has mercy on whom He desires, and whom He desires, He hardens.” (Romans 9:18) Faith, the benchmark of Judgment, requires that people are able to make choices. However, God chooses to expose some people to situations that can make them grow; others are exposed to situations that elicit renewed opposition. In the following context, Paul rhetorically asks if this is really fair. Should not everyone experience the exact same thing? No, because God knows what is inside each person, so teaches those so inclined and uses those beyond help.

“That He might make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand, into glory.” (Romans 9:23) Often, the same event attracts some to God yet drives others to resist. Paul’s example is the Pharaoh of the Exodus. Those who respond to the displays of the consistent goodness of God’s character (glory) are, by that exposure, prepared to be transformed into that same consistent goodness. Paul’s implication is that this pattern of attraction or rejection based on response to the same events continues.