FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2023 - SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS - MERCY

 FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2023 - SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS - MERCY

Mercy is defined as: “Compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.”

I’d make a poor judge or jurist. I think I would err on the side of mercy 

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First some thoughts about anger and revenge:

Anger is powerful. Punishing people who have hurt you is desirable. Revenge sounds sweet. But in the end, anger and revenge consume you more than anyone and anything else.  Anger and revenge are like cancer eating away at your innermost person.  

When someone brings you loss and grief, the wish to destroy them as much as they destroyed you occupies your entire mind and soul.  That desire to destroy them - ends up destroying YOU.  You can’t eat, you can’t sleep - REVENGE - I must get even!!  I must punish this person who has hurt me.

You can think of nothing but bringing them down and hurting them.  This oneness of mind and purpose sidetrack everything else in your life.  You can’t do your job - because of the fixation on hurting the one (or ones) who hurt you.

The desire to take revenge impacts every aspect of your life, and there is no way that is healthy.  Like before, this is like a mental cancer - a hatred that has become an obsession.

All the energy and feelings you put into giving your enemy a taste of their own medicine might not even be worth it in the end.  Count the cost friends - count the cost.  If you do get revenge, the reward might be sweet in your mouth, but turn bitter in the long run. Retribution might lead a person to get a gun and be a vigilante - “I’m going to take justice into my own hands”.

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That is why people sometimes decide to welcome forgiveness, compassion, and mercy. Because nothing can compensate for what you have lost, not even taking something from your enemy in return.

If we get revenge, it can’t bring back the life of my daughter killed by a drunk driver, it can’t bring back the job that I was unduly fired from. You can try to punish them for what they have done, but it does not guarantee that you will not feel as empty as before. As we said, anger is powerful. You become a shadow of your former self.  You have sold your humanity for the lie of revenge. But letting your anger go and starting afresh is even more powerful.

The most courageous people in the world are the ones who forgive because they have realized that showing their wrath does not help anybody, especially themselves.

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In the news, we see people “demanding” justice - an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.  

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“I desire mercy and not sacrifice” Hosea 6:6

Karen adds.  There is an old expression “Too heavenly-minded to be any earthly good”. I think that is for those who are thinking about heaven and heavenly things.  I am probably guilty of that expression.

Yes, I have been angry in the past, and yes, I wanted justice done - “Throw the book at them, lock them up for a million years”.    

In a few years (or a few days or even a few hours), I’m going to die.  Another old expression, “There is nothing sure but death and taxes”.  I have a friend who said to me, “Stop talking about dying”.  But, I am going to die.  Everybody dies.  

Does it hurt me to be merciful?  Can I forgive the hideous crimes that have been committed?  What does it cost me to forgive?  Yes, I’m probably in a different situation than some people.  I’m retired - so I can’t really get fired.  My family has deserted me - and although I love them (and try to love them totally and unconditionally) - they don’t know that. 

Some verses from Psalm 103:

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love.

He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

As I get deeper into the LOVE WINS philosophy, I realize that I must have compassion for others, I must forgive others.  

Last Friday I wrote about Ivory soap that is 99 and 44/100s pure.  None of us is 100% pure!!

Jesus said, “Father forgive them, they know not what they are doing”. Steven (as he was being pelted with stones), said ““Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”.  

Can I match this by saying “Forgive them”.  Can I be merciful?  

Even the tax collector prayed, “‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

1 Corinthians 13 says:  Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails.

LOVE WINS
LOVE CAN TRANSFORM US

KAREN ANNE WHITE, ©, JUNE 16, 2023