Love mercy...

I have been pondering on a verse in Micah 6:8 And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly (do the right thing by everyone) and to love mercy. And to walk humbly with your God. Love mercy…love mercy.

I think - often we love justice, or we love righteousness, or we love repentance more than we love mercy. Mercy is harder. Mercy is a divine attribute that doesn’t come easily to us. Love mercy… If we find ourselves feeling indignant and angry at the behaviour of others and always wanting to put them right – we may need to ask the Lord to teach us how to love mercy. It is the way of love. It leads to blessing and the great joy of seeing what we say come to pass.

Why are we required to ‘walk humbly with our God?’ Because mercy and humility are entwined. The humble are aware of their own failings and can be merciful about the faults of others. When we find ourselves lacking mercy – we need to look closely at our measure of humility. The new covenant speaks mercy – mercy – mercy on the lost and blind and deceived. Mercy, not judgement. Paul said in Romans 2 – ‘The kindness of God leads us to repentance. Don’t you realise that?’ Mercy, mercy, mercy. James said in Ch.2:13 – 14 “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged (weighed up – assessed) by the law that brings freedom – (he has been talking about the royal law of love), because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgement.”

Mercy is far, far superior to judgement. I have come to believe that our loving Father does not go round looking for minuscule faults to judge, but rather is looking for the tiniest hint of turning or longing for grace that will invite his mercy. And then he runs towards us….

In the Tabernacle that God instructed Moses to build - there is the Most Holy place – where the high priest went once year with the blood of a perfect slain lamb. And right in the centre was a place called ‘The mercy seat.” It was the lid or cover of gold laid over the Ark of the Covenant. There were two cherubim at either end, all gold. And the Lord said “I will meet you there – at the mercy seat.” The place of meeting with our Most Holy God is a place of mercy. We meet him there – because the blood of Jesus has been spilt in that place, once, for all, to enable us to constantly receive mercy. But if our heart is in a place of judgement against others – how can we come close to the mercy seat? We in fact stand outside the curtain. Outside of the realm of grace. Can I recommend if you find yourself often angry at the lives of others – that you study ‘the mercy seat’ in the Old and New Testament – and how God meets us in mercy – so you can learn to bring others to that place of mercy and plead his blood over them.

For Jesus died for them – his mercy is extended to them, as much as to us. ‘Once, for all.’ “Freely you have received… freely give.” What did Jesus say as they nailed him to that cruel cross… “Father forgive them – they know not what they do.” It’s a great prayer to keep praying – in any situation that offends and wounds us.

I’ve been talking this week by email with someone who has a business partner who has hurt and stifled her over and over again. She has felt trapped and deeply angry and has only been able to speak complaint and judgement about her partner. I have been trying to help her forgive and bless. I wrote to her and said, “It could be that this behaviour that hurts you has come out of an earlier relationship and the fear and control you experience is a protective measure… an unconscious instinct.” This turned a light on – and she said, “Yes, I think that it is. I feel more compassion now and I am speaking forgiveness and blessing more easily.”

Be merciful as your Father is merciful. This is the picture Jesus brought to us. And we must live by this royal law of love. It has the power of the throne behind it. As we speak mercy and blessing all of heaven is behind us. It will change lives. It will change our heart.