When some people invoke God into a conversation, He is spoken of as a judge, someone to be fearful of, someone who could command pain and hardship. Somehow the purpose of God, namely his compassion and mercy, are not spoken of.
There are loud voices today who consistently react only with the law or the rulebook, and criticize those that don’t. Then there are those who also consider Christ’s deep-seated commitment to mercy and compassion when making a decision.
Can you think of any examples from your own life experiences where someone responded to you with their heart rather than a rulebook? What difference did it make in the situation?
May we make this our commitment in our own everyday decision making and may these words from Psalm 103 be part of our prayer today:
“The Lord is kind and merciful. He pardons all our iniquities.
He heals all our ills. He redeems our life from destruction
and he crowns us with kindness and compassion”.
For additional reading: Patience and Oaths, James 5:9-12 and Marriage and Divorce, Mark 10:1-12.
