Living God, Your almighty power is made known chiefly in showing mercy and pity. Grant us the fullness of Your grace to lay hold of Your promises and live forever in your presence; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
He had hurt her deeply. His words had been cruel and his indifference to her own pain and suffering had been a hallmark of his relationship to her. Eventually, after too long, she realized that this was not going to change, and she left. We were all glad for her. He had not been good to her and we loved her. We did not want to see her suffer.
Now, after some years, their paths crossed. She was not wealthy, but she was healthy. Her life had come back together in a way. Now he was there, broken, broke, and perhaps dying. She had walked away from him once, but she did not close the door. She had mercy on him, helped him, eased his life as he was indeed dying.
There are many today in the world who say that showing mercy or feeling pity for someone is a sign of weakness, even a character flaw. They see a world which is always and only a contest. Winners get the spoils, dictate their will, and exact justice upon those who oppose them. But the Christian sees this in a different way. God, who is almighty, shows that almighty power in not getting even, in declining to settle scores, in showing mercy and having pity on the very people who have opposed him. Just for clarity’s sake, that is us. By the outpouring of the Spirit and the gift of Jesus, we too are given to be God’s children in this way. We can see past the score-settling ways of the world to the merciful goodness of God. Lay hold of his promise. You have heaven itself, by rights, for Jesus has given it to you. There is no one to whom you cannot be good and merciful. That cannot be taken away from you. You are powerful. You are wealthy. Demonstrate it today, show mercy.