Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Mercy and Grace


MERCY - Merriam-Webster
1  a : compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one's power;    b : imprisonment rather than death imposed as penalty for first-degree murder
2  a : a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion    b : a fortunate circumstance
3  : compassionate treatment of those in distress


GRACE - Merriam Webster
1  a : unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification     b : a virtue coming from God    c : a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace
2  a : approval, favor     b archaic : mercy, pardon     c : a special favor : privilege     d : disposition to or an act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemency   e : a temporary exemption : reprieve


Mercy. I find this one so easy, yet so difficult. I find it easy to act with mercy toward some, but so hard with others. I am working on forgiveness. Moving on and not looking back with pain, guilt and regret, but looking forward with hope and gratitude to those who have helped me along the way.

Ok, God's Grace I have an easier time with. God's virtue given to us as a gift for our faith. He can do whatever He wants right? I love the idea of a loving God that will forgive, and move on. Showing His pleasure with small, everyday blessings, even in our roughest times. I am noticing it more and more all the time.

As a Christian, it is expected for us to act in kindness and love for our fellow man (something I strive for), even when they treat us with coldhearted indifference or outright animosity. I have seen so much Christian hypocrisy throughout my life, but the highest concentration was within a one year period at the Crossing. The same people that are proclaiming every weekend that they care for the broken then ignore them the other five days of the week. I pray for them to receive God's mercy and grace, to see their way back to the path of light. Living for the true and loving God that can and will wash it all away, if only they would ask it of Him. 

It has been a difficult road to relearn the truth of what God is truly saying to us. I listened to the lies, eisegesis, and manipulative blabber and tucked it away as truth. I find that I have to rethink, reread and reevaluate EVERYTHING that is now said to me, in God's name. It is a good thing. It helps me learn for myself, everything He wants me to know. I will continue to grow stronger and learn more with each passing day, but only with God's mercy and His grace.

Jen