A Bridge of Mercy

Week 44

Webster defines mercy as compassion shown to an offender; a blessing resulting from divine favor or compassion; a fortunate circumstance; a compassion shown to victims of misfortune. To the Christian that means that God shows compassion to sinners, he blesses us not because we deserve it, but because he is a compassionate God. He doesn’t treat us as our sinful natures deserve to be treated. We are shown mercy only because of what Jesus Christ did for us. He ultimately paid the price that we owed as offenders, sinners.

How can we know that God is a merciful God? His word tells us about his merciful character. Deuteronomy 4:30-31 reads, “When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the Lord your God and obey him. For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath.” Again in Nehemiah we read “But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.” Nehemiah. 9:31

How does our belief in God’s mercy take us from being fearful to being peaceful? Until we realize God’s mercy, we are lost in our sinfulness. We have a fear inside that we cannot do enough to become righteous in God’s eyes. That fear of failure, fear of being lost forever is within us. 

In the old testament we see the Hebrews seeking God’s favor through sacrifices and righteous living. In Hosea 6:6 we read this, “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgement of God rather than burnt offerings.” “He has shown you, O man, what is good,” said the prophet Micah. “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)

Before we can walk across that bridge of mercy, we need to acknowledge our sinfulness and repent. It is when we accept what Christ died to give us that we can begin to overcome our fears.

If you have never accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, and you are ready to take that step right now, pray this prayer. 

Father God, I know that you came to earth in the form of the man, Jesus Christ, to die for the sins of the world. I thank you for dying for my sins and I ask you into my heart right now to change me. I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and now sits at your right hand. I want to be like Jesus and live my life to please you. I thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit which has begun to do a new thing inside me. Thank you, Father. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Once we accept the gift that God has given us, salvation through Jesus Christ, then he begins to lead us from our fears toward his peace. It is a process and it seems that we may be walking back and forth across the bridge of mercy almost daily at times.

In Hebrews 2:17 we find out exactly why Jesus had to become like us, “For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.” 

Jesus died for our sins as a man suffering all the physical pain that we would have suffered had we been made to atone for our own sins. He became merciful - he became the bridge of mercy taking all of us who would believe in him from fear of death into peace (wholeness). We read this again in 1 Peter 1:3-5 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ in his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade - kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”

When we call to God for mercy, he hears us and administers mercy to us as much as we need for our time of need. David was in need of help, he was fearful and needed peace. Read Psalm 86, over and over again David asked God for mercy. He reminded God of his character traits, he is a gracious God, a forgiving God, a God who does marvelous deeds, a God to be feared, a loving God, a God of compassion and faithfulness. 

We can do the same thing when we are in need. We can recall all of the wonderful qualities of God. When we have fears that are seeming to overwhelm us, we can cry out to God to help us. We are, after all, his children. We are brothers and sisters of Jesus and that makes us adopted children of the most high God. We have the same rights as God’s children to ask for mercy and help when we have a need.

Not only do we have rights as adopted sons and daughters of the most high God, but we also have responsibilities as joint heirs with Jesus. Jesus tells us to be merciful as God is merciful. (Luke 6: 36) Now who do you suppose we are to be merciful to? Other Christians, sure, but that is a given. How about our families, co-workers, neighbors and all those we meet each day who don’t know about the love of Christ. 

In Matthew 5:7 Jesus says, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” Can we also be part of that bridge of mercy that takes people from fear to peace? Yes, we can. We can lead people to Christ, we can be Christ to those who are fearful, we can bring peace to situations because of Christ living in us. 

In Ephesians 2:6 we read that God has raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. In verse 10 we read that we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

How have you acted like a bridge of mercy today? What good works have you done lately that reflect who you are in Christ? Who have you shown mercy to? 

I ask myself these questions and honestly have to say that I don’t think I have been merciful to anyone the past few days. I truly believe that I have had opportunities and not always followed through on them. 

In my previous job I had chances to be merciful, but I don’t know that anyone really knew that it was Christ in me that was showing them mercy. Some people probably didn’t even know that mercy was shown them. But maybe they didn’t have to know about it, maybe it was enough for God to see me showing mercy.

In Jude verses 20-23 we read more about mercy. “But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear - hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”

Father God, We want to praise you and thank you for your mercy which saves us from our sin. Thank you for the gift of Christ Jesus and his blood which was shed for us. Thank you for taking us from fear into your peace. Show us how to administer mercy in the same way you have showered us with mercy. We want to be your hands and feet serving you all the days of our lives. Give us opportunities to be merciful and to share the good news with those around us. These things we ask in Jesus mighty name. Amen