February 25 – Mercy!!!

“I said, 'Here am I, here am I.' All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations” - Isaiah 65:2

Young Robert – maybe 8 years old – knew he was in BIG trouble when he heard his mother call, “Come here, right now!” To make it worse, she had used his full name, first, middle, and last....the only time he heard his mother or father call him by his full name was when he had really gone and done it, and something more than a lecture was ahead!

Knees knocking, lip trembling, with his hands already defending his seat, Robert approached his mother – it felt like the seat of justice. Robert's mother didn't mince her words as she described the seriousness of his behaviour (I won't go into details) in letting down the family values. Robert winced as he heard the assessment of his character, and her disappointment in him. Holding his breath Robert waited, he knew from her anger that his mother wouldn't just send him to his room and ground him for a week....and then the dreaded words, “You know, don't you, that this will hurt me more than it will hurt you?” Robert could never figure that one out, because when the confrontation was over, the only one holding their seat and whimpering, was him!

Twenty years later....! Yes, I'm sure you've been there. The same scenario. Robert junior is on the carpet in response to hearing, “Come here, right now!” and his name – first, middle, and last - head hanging, knees knocking, and lip trembling, with hands protecting his seat. Then, to your horror, you hear your mother's words coming out of your mouth, “You know, don't you, that this will hurt me more than it will hurt you?”

It reminds me of a story I heard of a little boy who, every week played up in church, despite repeated warnings that if it continued, he would suffer the consequences – it continued until one day his mother had had enough, punishment was due. As they disappeared down the aisle, the boy, lip trembling, called to the congregation, “Pray for me! Please pray for me!”

When we have let down our Family values, God calls us to Him by our names – first, middle, and last, and tells us that “This will hurt me more than it will hurt you.” We don't need to protect our seats with our hands because God holds them with compassion.”

Like Robert's mother, God doesn't have the heart to mete out punishment, but it must be done, it aims to deal with the sin while continuing to love the sinner, love remains unchanged. “Though He brings grief, He will show compassion, so great is His unfailing love. For He does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men” (Lamentations 3:32,33)

Richard Coffen writes: “,,,,whatever suffering may come our way, we can rest assured that our Heavenly Father knows what we're experiencing, because He's going through it with us. He cares for us with an interest more intense than any we could possibly ever imagine. When our hearts break, His is breaking also, because in all our sufferings He suffers too.”

The Lord longs to be graciou to you; He rises to show you compassion....How gracious He will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, He will answer you” (Isaiah 30:18,19). “The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces” (Isaiah 25:8).

The Gaither's Vocal Band (LIVE) singing “Sow Mercy” is today's music choice.