Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5: 7
What is the difference between mercy and grace? Mercy (eleos) always deals with pain, misery and distress- compassion for people in need as a result of sin- while grace (charis) is pardon extended to the sinner. “The one cures, heals, helps, and the other cleanses and restores… interpreted in the context of the beatitudes, it is the meek who are also merciful. For to be meek is to acknowledge that we are sinners, to be merciful is to have compassion on others, because they are sinners too” (Stott).
It all brings us back to the story of the unmerciful servant, who could not forgive the other guy.
Dear LORD, fill me with a profound sense of my sin and your grace, so that I too may freely and joyfully offer the same to all, not just some. We certainly did not earn His mercy- He paid it all.
No comments:
Post a Comment