Have Mercy

"Blessed are the merciful,
For they will be shown mercy."

There are two sides to the coin of the gift of salvation.  On one side is grace; on the other, mercy.  Grace is getting what we don't deserve; Mercy, is not getting what we do.  For us to show mercy to others is to lay aside our right to revenge, anger, bitterness and instead to forgive.

The best illustration of mercy that I've seen recently is from a very unlikely source:  the television show American Horror Story:  Asylum.  The story over several episodes has many facets, but the most interesting to me was the story of Sister Jude (played so well by Jessica Lange), the particularly cruel administrator of an insane asylum in the early 1960's.  One inmate in particular goes through various forms of beatings and harsh treatments at her hands, though he has been incarcerated for a crime he did not commit.  Eventually, Jude herself becomes a patient in the institution mistreated in unimaginable ways and the innocent inmate is found to be innocent and released.  After some time, he is able to track down Jude and release her from the institution into his care.  In the meantime, she has gone truly insane and is not a particularly pleasant houseguest.  But, through patience and love becomes a loving, merciful person herself, taking on the role of surrogate parent to her former inmate and surrogate grandmother to his children.  It was surprising to me that such a beautiful picture of mercy and grace was shown on current television, especially on a show like American Horror Story. 

Of course, the ultimate example of mercy is Jesus Christ Himself.  The level of mercy that he shows to those He encounters in the gospel narratives is unparalleled.  And still today, He shows us so much mercy.  Those who know Him need not fear the grave or hell, truly what our sin deserves, but we are shown grace by sharing in His inheritance, being made sons and daughters of God through His mercy on the cross.  Even from the cross, He showed unbelievable mercy in the words "Father, forgive them, they do not know what they are doing."  What words!

The question is often asked, "why do bad things happen to good people?"  It's a fair question.  But if we look honestly at ourselves:  our shortcomings, our sin, our lack of compassion, our worship of the gods of money, fame, sex, work, even good things like family, anything that comes before the true God, we seem very dark in His light.  If we're really honest with ourselves, the question should be "why do good things happen to anybody?"

The answer to that question is this:  because of His mercy and its brother grace.  As we have been shown great mercy, so should we show mercy.  As we have been given great grace, far beyond what we can imagine, so should we show grace.  The next time the thoughts of unforgiveness enter your mind, take the thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.  And remember the words He spoke from the cross were not only spoken to those who drove the nails, shouted the insults, and swung the lash, but to each of us as well.  Lord, as we are unmerciful "Father forgive us, we know not what we do."