Posted on 03/01/2019 5:21:13 AM PST by metmom
“‘Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy’” (Matthew 5:7).
To understand the significance of mercy, let’s compare it to three amazing attributes of God. First, mercy has much in common with forgiveness, although it is distinct from it. God’s forgiveness of our sins flows from His mercy. But mercy is greater than forgiveness, because God is merciful to us even when we do not sin, just as we can be merciful to those who have never done anything against us. God’s mercy does not just forgive our transgressions but reaches to all our weaknesses and needs.
Just as forgiveness flows out of mercy, mercy flows out of love: “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ” (Eph. 2:4–5). Love is greater than mercy—it can manifest itself even when there is no wrong to forgive or need to meet.
Finally, mercy is also related to grace, which flows out of love. Grace and mercy have the closest possible relationship, yet they are different. Mercy deals with the consequences of sin, while grace deals with sin itself. Mercy offers relief from punishment; grace offers pardon for the crime.
Just look at what the Good Samaritan did. When he found a Jewish traveler who had been robbed and beaten, he held no animosity toward him. Love motivated him to show the man mercy when he bound up his wounds. And when he took him to an inn and cared for him, he showed grace. Such is the expression of mercy working with forgiveness, love, and grace.
Ask Yourself
Is there someone to whom you need to show God’s mercy, expressed through your love, your grace, your forgiveness? Think of how you can turn your merciful intentions into practical action.
Studying God’s Word ping
“He is a just God”
Remember that line?
Yup.
A bit OT...
How do I forgive someone who betrayed me so grievously it bordered on satanic?
Yes, it is easier said than done.
Any sincere replies are most welcomed.
Without being glib, literally by the grace of God.
I would suggest that you pray about it and take it to God. Tell Him you want to be obedient but donot know how to do this and cannot do it in your own strength. Ask Him to give that to you.
Also find a good book on exactly what forgiveness is.
Forgiveness is NOT saying what that person did was OK, that it didn’t really matter, that it didn’t really hurt you, and is not making excuses.
A person who has wronged you owes you a debt they cannot pay. Yes, there are things that people do that sometimes they come back and acknowledge the wrong and ask forgiveness. In those rare cases, it is far easier to forgive.
But that is usually not the situation.
Forgiveness also does not mean you have to trust the person again, or even be reconciled to them. Sometimes that is foolhardy, especially in cases of sexual abuse. Trust is earned and you cannot take the risk of being victimized again.
So what I’ve read and been taught from different sources, is that forgiveness is releasing the person from the obligation of the debt thye owe you and turning them over to God to let Him deal with that person as He sees fit.
Many times it’s not just a one time action, and it’s not a feeling. It’s a choice and there have been situations where I have had to force myself to say out loud, that* I forgive _________ for (how they wronged me) and that I turn them over to You God to deal with them as You see fit.*
Apparently, as long as you hold that person answerable to you, it blocks God from being able to work in the situatoin.
I will look up the names of the books I referrered to and get them to you later.
There is none other...
The book I was referring to is *Forgiveness* by Rodney Hogue.
It’s a very short read but very thorough.
The other is not the same. It’s very in depth and detailed and deals with far more than forgiveness, although forgiveness is part of their ministry.
The book is *Healing Through Deliverance* by Peter Horrobin the founder of Ellel Ministries.
They have a wonderful ministry which has been life changing for mr. mm and me.
I will pray for God to guide you on your journey.
Thanks to both of you for the comments & suggestions - they are truly appreciated.
My “betrayer” has long since passed so, in my mind, it becomes a bit tougher to forgive & move-on. I much prefer facing the evil directly and that’s not possible.
That said, I’ll keep pluggin’ and take your helpful comments as they were meant.
That is not an unusual situation.
I’m going to reread my copy of the book on forgiveness and see what it says about that situation.
Forgiving is HARD, it’s often the hardest thing anyone can ever do.
A man was caught embezzling a large amount of money from his employer. The owner brought him into his office and told him, "I know you have stolen this money but I am not going to have you arrested and prosecuted. You can keep your job and I am promoting you." - that was GRACE
Now, I know this is an extreme example, but I think it shows how mercy and grace are not the same. Mercy is not getting what we deserve. Grace is getting what we do not deserve. Because of God's mercy we are not consumed due to our sin and enmity against Him. Because of God's grace we are forgiven of our sins, saved from eternal condemnation and made joint heirs with Christ and seated in the heavenly places with Him.
Good advice. I would add that forgiveness also means “giving up my right to get even with one who has wronged me”. Only by the grace of God can we forgive like that.
In the case of someone who wronged you who is now dead or even in the case of someone still alive who refuses to come clean and ask for your forgiveness for their acts, I think the best thing to do is let it go and surrender it to the Lord. He says vengeance belongs to Him and he will repay. He knows better than any of us can how best to deal with wrongdoing. As long as we harbor resentment and unforgiveness in our hearts, the more damage the initial wrong does to us. God wants us to be free of that pain.
Go with what boatbums suggested. She says in a nice and helpful way the very same message to you that I have to stand on the table and shout at the top of my lungs and use too many words and take way too long to say. R2z
Thank you, R2z. It was a lesson in wisdom that I confess took most of my life to learn. Those that mean evil for us, God can turn to good. Letting go of unacknowledged wrongs isn’t a human action and can only happen through God’s grace. Jesus Christ has set us free from sin and death and all their fruits. When we let go of our desire for revenge and recompense, we allow God to heal us from the injury to our souls and He DOES heal completely. Because of this we can walk in newness of life unencumbered from the fiery darts of the wicked one. When we forgive as God forgives us, we confound the enemy of our souls. We are victorious.
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