Imagine our world if we showed mercy and grace.
As a noun, mercy mean compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone when it is within our power to punish or harm.
God showed mercy by sending His Son when He could have used His power to punish a nation of people who had turned their backs on Him—and would have been justified in doing so. But out of love, He chose a different route—a route of mercy.
Grace as a noun is God’s free and unmerited favor manifested in saving sinners and bestowing blessings on them.
Grace is when God—out of mercy—sent His only Son . . . the one perfect human . . . a man full of goodness and love to suffer on a cross and die an unimaginable death for those who deserved punishment. The most beautiful example of grace was Jesus sacrificing His perfect life for our imperfect lives so we could experience freedom and salvation.
Jesus showed mercy to Judas by allowing him to spend the last supper in His presence, even though Judas' heart had already changed to betray him. Jesus had the right and the power to send him away and separate Himself from this traitor. Grace was Jesus washing His disciples’ feet in the final hours before His death.
For those who have chosen to follow Christ, mercy is a wife choosing to forgive her husband after he betrays her trust and seeks love outside their home. She decides to stay with him and give him another chance. Grace is that same wife surprising her husband with a vow-renewal ceremony to show she is willing to recommit to him and her marriage, regardless of his mistakes.
Mercy is when parents forgive their unreachable teenage child for their bad attitude and for the unclean room. Grace is cleaning their child’s room and leaving him a note that lets their child know how deep and unconditional their love for him is—just like Jesus’ love for them.
Think of ways you can channel the grace and mercy Jesus has shown you.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
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Cassie Garrett grew up in the small town of Metamora, Indiana. She is married to her husband Nate, and they have two young daughters, Sophie and Savannah. While living in Nebraska, Cassie volunteered to participate in her first mission trip to Costa Rica. This journey became a turning point in her life. She felt as if God had sent her to Costa Rica to send her home. She also felt a stirring in her heart to write a book, as well as a calling to leave her corporate job and return home to open a family-run business—which would become her family's ministry. Hoping their restaurant would cultivate an environment in which customers could be loved and leave feeling both full and happy, Cassie desires to be a disciple of Jesus—not only serving Him first but also serving her family, her friends, her community, and her new-found friends. Cassie describes herself in one word: human.