Mercy 1: How Could He? Why Would He?

“Have mercy.” Have you heard it? Or said it? In a world full of vengeance, God offers mercy and forgiveness. This is the introductory devotional for the June 2 Worldwide Prodigal Prayer Day, to help us pray for our prodigals and for wanderers all over the globe. Our theme this year is Mercy. Whether or not you love a prodigal, surely you desire more mercy in your life.

I just spent the afternoon in tears.

I read the book Forgiven, written by Terri Roberts, the mother of the man who shot and killed five young Amish girls in their schoolhouse, and wounded five more, then killed himself.

An unbelievable story of horror and destruction that sent shockwaves across the country. It made no sense. The shooter, Charlie, was a loved and respected member of the “English” (non-Amish) community in Strasburg in Lancaster County. He loved his wife and three young children. His parents and brothers lived nearby. There were no warning signs.

How could he do it? Why did he do it?

But even more incomprehensible was the response of the Amish: Forgiveness. Their faith taught them to trust God and to forgive whatever the offense, the pain, horror, the devastation they experienced. Through their tears they reached out to Charlie’s family, extending compassion and mercy to his wife and children, his parents, his brothers.

How could they do that? Why would they do that?

Because our God loves mercy.

Mercy is the theme of our next June 2 Worldwide Prodigal Prayer Day. As I read this story filled with compassion and forgiveness, I knew we should start with it as we prepare our hearts and minds to do battle—on our knees—with the enemy of our souls, who is relentlessly pursuing our loved ones.

Mercy is one of the foundational qualities of our amazing God. James tells us that “The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” (James 5:ll)

But what is mercy?

Let me try to help us grasp the reality, the necessity, the impossibility and imperative of mercy.

Some definitions of mercy:

A disposition to be kind and forgiving.

Compassionate treatment, especially of those under one's power; clemency.

A refraining from harming or punishing offenders, enemies, persons in one's power, etc.; kindness in excess of what may be expected or demanded by fairness; forbearance and compassion.

Compassionate treatment, having a capacity to forgive or showing kindness.

“Mercy is a concept integral to an understanding of God's dealings with humankind. In English translations of the Bible, it comes to expression in phrases such as "to be merciful, " "to have mercy on, " or "to show mercy toward."

“The corresponding term, "merciful, " describes a quality of God and one that God requires of his people. The noun denotes compassion and love, not just feelings or emotions, as expressed in tangible ways…. God's mercy, unlike human mercy, cannot be exhausted. (Baker Bible Dictionary)

He is rich in mercy

With that basic understanding of mercy—compassion and forgiveness given even though not deserved—we move to comprehending the wonder and awesomeness of God’s mercy to us:

“But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:4-7)

Our God loves us and desires relationship with us, yet we sin and reject and disobey. But our heavenly Father, because of His love and compassion, pursues us to pour out His mercy on us and set us free.

And then He says we are to do the same: have compassion, show mercy, forgive our beloved prodigals, our family, friends and neighbors, and even our enemies. As God shows mercy, so should we.

Not easy, considering some of the actions and attitudes of our prodigals. But if the Amish could even forgive—show mercy to—the one who murdered their children, and then reach out to that man’s family with forgiveness and friendship, we too can grow into mercy.

In the next five weeks, leading up to the June 2 Worldwide Prodigal Prayer Day, we will be looking at stories from Scripture and from life of the power of mercy, the call to mercy, the ways we show mercy.

With love and mercy,

Judy Douglass

P.S. I hope you will ask God to speak specifically to you about receiving and giving mercy.

Each week I will try to give you a link to merciful music for this journey. Here is one of my favorites: New Every Morning  Audrey Assad

What about you? When have you received abundant mercy?

C2021 Judy Douglass