You Can Find Grace and Mercy
Have you ever been yelled out of a room?
As a pastor, I made decisions that people were not happy with. One time I picked up the phone only to receive a high-volume verbal beating. Another time, when faced with an emotionally charged topic, I asked the other party to consider their part in the conflict. Again, the result was high-volume judgment of my heart and character.
By then, I had learned a few things, so after seeking reconciliation to no avail, I quietly stated that I was ending the conversation. I headed to the door for my shoes and walked out. Ultimately, the other party was unable to extend mercy and grace in a tough moment.
Unfortunately, I’ve been guilty of being judgmental and critical too. Fifteen years ago, we had a dozen neighbors over for Bible study. Most of them were not evangelical, and I was excited to be in conversation with them around Scripture. But when the subject of grace and works arose, I began a judgmental lecture on salvation by faith alone. It damaged some relationships and set back our ability to have spiritual conversations.
People know very quickly whether they will find mercy and grace or judgment and condemnation.
The gospels tell us that people in need who approached Jesus found mercy and grace.
The sick found healing. The demon-oppressed found release. The unclean found purity. The inquisitive found answers. The desperate found grace and mercy to help them in time of need.
The one thing those in need did not find was condemnation and judgment. Yes, the day of judgment is coming. But it is not yet (see 2 Corinthians 5:10).
The author of Hebrews said this about Jesus: “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16, NIV)
During the Christmas season, we acknowledge Jesus came to earth partly to identify with us and understand what it means to be tempted, to be human. He took the initiative to approach us, so that through His accomplished work we might approach Him.
When we acknowledge our need, we can be confident that we will find mercy (not receiving the judgment we deserve) and grace (receiving what we don’t deserve) to help us in our time of need.
Dear Saints, the question is twofold. First, do you have this confidence to approach God in your time of need? Our confidence must be in Christ, not our own merit. Upon His merit we can approach the throne with confidence.
Second, can you model an attitude of mercy and grace for others when they are in need? The author of Hebrews continued: “Every high priest… is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness.” (Hebrews 5:1-2, NIV)
The apostle Peter tells us that in Christ, we are a “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9). As those who serve the Lord and love others, we are called to deal gently with others because we can identify with them. We have all fallen short and have no cause for boasting in ourselves (see Romans 3:21-27).
During these days of strife and condemnation, let’s remember that Christ came to earth so that he could experience being human and “empathize with our weaknesses.”
Since we are subject to weakness, let us follow His example and “deal gently” with others, thereby modeling the grace and mercy of Christ in this broken and needy world.