We don't choose the person who sits beside us at work, the uncle we've become related to by marriage, or the neighbor who just moved in next door. We cant control the choices of wayward children or wayward parents or wayward friends. What pleases God is our mercy toward the ones you haven't chosen. They may be fallen, struggling, disappointing, or downright embarrassing. Maybe one is the stranger who rear-ended you in the parking lot. God loves it when you give to anyone the mercy he has so freely extended to you.
When your soul is being perfected by mercy, judgment fades. The rules don't matter as much, and what everyone might think becomes ridiculous. You become tender toward people in sin, the snare of addictions, and the depths of pain and suffering. On the other hand, life gets messy when you become merciful, and some people won't understand. (they didn't understand Jesus either) Some will jusge-bank on it. Someone will doubt your motives or your radical choice to extend mercy. Give on, because blessed are the merciful.
I expect that no matter how much you give, you will always receive more than you have given. God's mercy accounting is amazing. But one warning: Mercy won't let you hold onto your legalism or value rules more than you should. Mercy might make you uncomfortable and blow away the box you've drawn around God. If you become merciful, things are going to change. You are going to look into the eyes of people and hurt for their pain. You are going to hear yourself offer light into their darkness. You will start to love the unlovely.
You will be a lot more like Jesus that way. What satisfaction to know that although it is not easy to be merciful like this, but it is not easy learning to ride a bike or tie our shoes but through this very Jesus like act we receive the satisfaction to know that we become more and more like him. God is so wondrous and amazing to me.
Melissa Harris
