“For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” (James 2:13 ESV)

“Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36 ESV)

According to google, mercy is “Compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.”

Compassion is “Sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.”

So knowing the meaning of those two words, think about your day yesterday. Did you show mercy and/or compassion to someone? What did you do when that person cut you off on the road? Did you get mad at them? Or pray for them to get where they were going safely?

I used to get mad. But now I just ask God to protect them and get them to their destination safely. I guess you could say that’s compassion. I used to pray for a cop to catch them. So this is definitely an improvement on my part.

God shows us mercy and compassion every day. He wakes us to a beautiful sunrise and birds singing. His greatest mercy is when we wake up to face another day. We have another chance to get it right. What will you do with it? Will you make God proud or will he shake his head in disappointment? I’m going to do everything in my power to make him proud. I don’t ever want to disappointment him.

So as you go through your day today, find ways to show mercy and compassion to others. Maybe just a word of encouragement to someone who needs it. You never know what others are going through and may need it.

Have a great day.

Kathy Keller