His Mercy

There is a game of strength I used to play with my friends called “Mercy.” Have you ever played it? For those who have never enjoyed this little example of machismo, please allow me to describe the game and its implication for today.

You place your arms and hands in front of you. Then you grab the extended hands of a friend, twist them in a downward motion, and try to push them up with force. The purpose of this little exercise is to inflict enough pain so the other person will scream out “mercy.” 

friend, life is quite a challenge right now. Have you cried out for mercy yet? I have, many times, because the Bible promises us, “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.” (1 Peter 1:3, NIV) The pain of the mercy game is real, and the pain that we are all experiencing from life is also very real. I can’t help but cry out to God for mercy. Somehow and some way, God will show us mercy instead of judgment. 

A tremendous Bible story just came to my mind. I think that it’s for you today: “Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!’ The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!’” (Matthew 20:30-31, NIV)  

Did you notice the blind men had no other hope? The government couldn’t fix them. The religious leaders condemned them, and society rejected them. But they heard about the One who wouldn’t turn His back on them: Jesus of Nazareth. These men were blind, but somehow they could see that Jesus was different. The noise around them could not silence them. They screamed above the maddening crowd, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” Jesus heard their cries for mercy and healed them. “Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed Him.” (Matthew 20:34, NIV)  

friend, Jesus is waiting for you to turn to Him again and cry out for mercy. He’s a great, kind, and compassionate God. I know He will hear you and respond with help and love because you are His miracle. He loves you more than the universe.