April 21 – Mercy’s Victory (James 2:8-13)

“Mercy triumph’s over judgment!” (James 2:13)

IN WORD:
When someone sins against us, we are driven by a sense of fairness. We want the sin acknowledged, repentance demonstrated, and restitution made. Within our minds are detail-sensitive measuring devices that scrutinize others’ actions to make sure we are treated fairly.
When we sin against someone else, we have an entirely different approach. We are driven by a sense of mercy. We expect people to cut us a certain amount of slack since, after all, only bitter, judgmental people get uptight about the little things. We forget that we ourselves are often uptight about the little things.
Jesus said to take that mercy-driven mind we have when we offend and apply it to the times when we are offended. “Do to others as you would have them do to you,” (Luke 6:31). The sense of fairness we have when we are wronged was assumed by God Himself and poured out on the crucified Jesus. We are no longer entitled to it. He declared once for all that justice is His, not ours. We are left only with mercy. And thank God for that. It’s all we need.

IN DEED:
God’s judgment is the natural result of His righteousness. It is integral to His character. But His mercy exceeds His justice. Only God could have conceived of a plan to exercise judgment in such a merciful way. In condemning our sins, He laid them all on His own flesh and took the condemnation Himself. His judgment was undergirded by grace.
God tells us to be like Him. If we are to have His mind and be steeped in His wisdom, we must let our own mercy triumph over our indignation. God has given us sure footing for grace and none at all for judgment.
The next time you need someone to cut you some slack and forgive, make a note of the feeling. Savor it and cultivate it. Then remember it the next time you are outraged at another’s fault. In doing so, you will apply mercy’s victory to your own heart. And you will understand God’s.

“The more godly any man is, the more merciful that man will be.” -Thomas Benton Brooks-