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God Spoke Mercy






because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

A few weeks ago I walked into a local fast food place hoping for a quick meal.  As I entered, there were few customers, so I was in luck, or so I thought. The people behind the counter looked up saw me waiting; even acknowledged me and went on with their work.  After waiting eons longer for someone to wait on me, God reminded me of a verse in James “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry”. I decided to change my lunch plans.  As I left, I was quite annoyed and hurt.  After all, they should have waited on me.  Is that any way to run a business?  I was still a little “put out” about the situation when I got back home.  I decided that I should let the manager know what happened.  It was only reasonable to expect prompt service and the employees completely ignored me.  Who would blame me?  In fact, most people would have hollered right there in the restaurant.  At least I didn't do that.  Later as I was working on a puzzle, God said “are you through ranting?  I was.  Then he said, “I know you could complain and go to their supervisors, but what if you show mercy instead”.  Ouch!    What if you let the offence go and do nothing?  I was humbled right then.  Why not give them mercy even though they certainly didn't deserve it.  When it comes right down to it, I don’t deserve God’s mercy either, yet he gives it.  Showing mercy is part of how we show others we love them. Whether I’m at home, or at work, church or any other place it is easier to cover an offence and forgive than to hold on to the anger over something that God may say doesn't matter.  I am glad that God reminded me not to get angry first, and then I’m praising God that he corrected my attitude.  I can walk with a lighter step because I am not carrying around regret over an action, or anger and unforgivness.  In fact God says that “mercy triumphs over judgment”.  God prefers that we be as merciful to others as he is to us.
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