If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. Matthew 12:7 (NIV)
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36 (NIV)
God’s mercy is as great as His power. It is a great advantage for us to understand this at our core and for our souls to embrace the sweetness of His goodness. Affections will follow our understanding of this great truth. It is hard, if not impossible, for us to love someone whom we think is against us and not for us. Amen? When we consider God’s lovingkindness and mercy it woos us, blesses us and inspires us to walk in a manner worthy of this great love so that we may “shine like stars” in the universe as we “hold out the Word of life” as Paul so eloquently writes in Philippians. Our actions are to reflect our Jesus, pointing sinners to the Savior and the weary to a divine resting place through His power for His glory.
God’s mercy does not mean He does not get angry with wrong-doing. He is fully aware of what sin leads to. He would be compassionless if it did not anger His Holy Heart. Jesus revolted against evil with anger more deeply than anyone when His feet walked this dusty earth. He loved us too much to remain indifferent, allowing us to continue on wallowing in depravity and filth. Jesus accomplished this without even a hint of sin tainting His Being. His anger springs from His mercy, compassion and love not from revenge, hate or pride. So too ours.
And the word of the LORD came again to Zechariah: “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.’” Zechariah 7:8-10 (NIV)
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 (NIV)