Choose mercy over revenge.

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 2:36.

Every day we have a compelling choice to make- show mercy or revenge. We can show our animosity and hatred, or we can choose to be merciful and forgiving. Are you quick to announce people’s mistakes and blunders or do you try to fly over them and ignore them for the sake of mercy? Do you keep a record of their failures? Recently I heard a man saying he hurt someone and asked forgiveness. However, the offendee would not forgive even after asking for forgiveness. E.A. Bucchianeri wrote in ‘vocation of Gadfly’, “Mercy is far better than justice, even if it is your right to ask for it.” You may have the right to ask for justice and judgment. However, mercy shines and triumph over it million times. Munia Khan said, “A merciful heart beats contently stronger than many vengeful ones.”

Did you stop and think why people generally spots, appreciate and highlights merciful and forgiving acts rather than vengeance, revenge, and demands of justice? Mercy, grace, love, and forgiveness are not usual and human but unusual and divine. Bible says wisdom that comes from heaven is “full of mercy and good fruit.” James 3:17. The source of true wisdom is God, and listen; it is full of mercy and sweet fruits of kindness.

In our today’s daily Bible insight, Jesus says, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

Jesus was referring to our Father in heaven; the living God who created the heavens, earth, and human beings and all we see around us. Psalms 145:8-9 says this about Lord, our father in heaven. “The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.” The same verse is repeated several times in the old testament and new testament book in the Bible. Did you notice the description of our Father in heaven? Gracious, full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. He has tender mercies over all his works.

We know this earth is filled with wickedness, evil deeds, crimes, and unfair practices. God can destroy this earth in a matter of seconds if He wants to. However, the Bible says, the only reason why people are not consumed by a holy God is just that of His mercy. Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23. Bible also says, “He (God) is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” If God would implement His judgment immediately, then there would not be an opportunity left to repent and change our evil behaviors. God is merciful to offer us time after time to repent of our sinful acts.

Beloved, we should give mercy to those who make mistakes and errors according to the mercy we received from God. What was the portion of mercy we received? Bible says in Romans 5 this- God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, He sent His one and only Son, Christ and He died for our errors/mistakes and sins.
If God showed his mercy while we are sinners, we ought to show the same type of mercy to others. The one who received much would give more.

Every day choose mercy and forgiveness over revenge and hatred. Then you will be free to move forward with your divinely designed plans and purposes without restraints, and the other person would have an opportunity to experience the divine, dynamite and transforming the power of mercy and grace.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, give me a merciful and forgiving heart to those who offend me. I know I am unable to do this without your help. I understand your mercy and love you showed me. You sent your one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to this earth. He died for all my sins in my place and paid for all. Then He rose again from the dead.  Lord please come to my life and transform me with your divine power. May I live for your plans and purposes the rest of my life. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”