Yes, not that He extends mercy
but that he extends His hand of justice and HEAVY justice for that matter. We love to say that vengeance belongs to God,
and sure it does but also remember mercy belongs to God as much.
I like to watch bible stories with
my kids, I learn a lot and I get to explain to them what is happening. In fact the
other day my house help told me that our kids know the bible more than she does.
Well, it’s all in the bible stories.
So one of the stories I have
watched with them is the story of Jonah, they love it, though it scares them to
see Johan being swallowed by a big fish. But it is the attitude of Jonah that I
want to talk about.
The attitude of punish them Lord,
they do not deserve your mercy, they do not even deserve your grace. You see, I
am good; we are good, but not them.
Isn't that that same attitude with our kids. They tell on each other , hoping that the other is severely punished and it gratifies them. Has any child ever told-on-another and you forgave the culprit, have you ever noticed the disappointment in the tellers eyes? And you think we are better?
The other day, something happened
that made me caught in the same attitude and as soon as I opened face book, I found
a quote by Joyce Meyer saying “Before you judge someone else, stop and
think about all that God has forgiven you for”
Honestly, I said, No! God PLEASE…not
this case. But I decided to obey beyond what I was feeling and so I wrote the
same on a note pad and stuck it on my office desk as a constant painful (to the flesh) but righteous reminder that truly, God has forgiven
much and the next time I pray for my for someone who has hurt me enough, I will
TRY to pray for mercy, that is where
I am with God, but I know he will help me, because I desire nothing but righteousness.
“Before you judge someone else,
stop and think about all that God has forgiven you for”
Have a blessed week.
hi,
ReplyDeleteIn light of what you have shared Romans 12:3-8 also points us in the right direction. Blessed week!
Oh, yes! Lessons we should have learned as children are applicable all our lives. Very good advice!
ReplyDeleteYes, it's funny how we want mercy for ourselves but can seek justice for those who have wronged us. I'm grateful that God is not like man.
ReplyDeleteI am trying to break the kids' habit of telling on each other - I use this as an opportunity to teach the kids about God's grace. I should also use it as a reminder to myself to continually extend grace to others especially when I think it is not merited. Boy is it easy to see how others have wronged us, but how hard it is to do some introspection!
ReplyDeleteBlessings.
oh how easy it is to see the speck in others than the log in our eye. Thanks Emma for the reminder on God's mercy on me, and that I should extend the same to others.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy reading your blog. you are an inspiration to my life. Keep on the good work