Scripture
14Are we saying, then, that God was unfair? Of course not! 15For God said to Moses, “I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.” 16So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it. Romans 8:14-16
Observation
The Jewish Christians were counting on their ancestry to get them in good with God. They also used their blood line to look down on the Gentile Christians as if they were somehow lesser children of God. When Paul strategically quotes a conversation between God and Moses he blows their whole pedigree argument out of the water. It’s by God’s mercy that the Jews were chosen. It’s by God’s mercy that the Gentiles were grafted in. It’s Mercy that messes up every argument we have that seeks to raise ourselves above another. Mercy can’t be earned. It isn’t deserved. It doesn’t look fair whatsoever. Mercy makes no sense because it’s the math of heaven. 5 loves and 2 fish in the hands of God can add up to feeding a multitude. When you give you receive. That makes no sense outside of the Kingdom economy. The truth is I’m glad it’s not fair, because fair would mean Jew and Gentile alike were destined for Hell fire. Judgment is getting what we deserve. Mercy is deliverance from the judgement we deserve. Paul’s whole point to the Church in Rome is that if they have received mercy that had better show mercy. James writes it this way, “For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; but [to the one who has shown mercy] mercy triumphs [victoriously] over judgment.’ James 2:13
Application
I came across a powerful true story that illustrates the importance of both receiving and showing a mercy that makes no sense. “There once was a pastor, in the days before the Internet took off, who availed himself of adult magazines when his wife wasn’t around. He knew what he was doing wasn’t right, of course, but he did it anyway. His wife left for a few days on a trip, and once she was gone from their apartment, he brought his magazines out of hiding. Later, he was so frustrated with himself and his continuing addiction that he decided, once and for all, to throw the magazines away. So he did. He took loads of them to the Dumpster, which sat at the base of their apartment’s stairwell, and got rid of them. Sadly—and perhaps you can relate to this—he later wanted them back. His wife was to arrive soon, and the trash hadn’t been collected, so he returned quickly to the Dumpster. Struggling, he leaned over the side to reach the magazines, lost his balance, and fell inside, breaking his arm. He couldn’t get out. It was just him. A pastor, trapped with his magazines . . . bleating for help in a Dumpster. And that’s where his wife found him.” I don’t know the rest of the story. I don’t know if his wife had mercy on him and helped him out and into recovery from his addiction. Without mercy she should have slammed the lid on his head and waited for the dump truck to come because he was doing trashy things, had trashed their marriage covenant and was right where we he deserved to be. That’s the thing about mercy though. It’s about not getting the judgement we deserve. I don’t know how their story ended but I know how mine continues. I’m a dumpster pastor too. Pornography isn’t my current struggle, but there’s not a day that goes by where I don’t receive mercy for some bonehead thing I’ve said or done. Thus, there’s not a day that goes by where I shouldn’t be fishing other dumpster pastors out of the sin they feel stuck in. Mercy makes no sense and I’m so glad because mercy makes me see what I’ve been missing.
Prayer
Lord, forgive me for I’m so quick to judge. I’m laying down my gavel and I’m kneeling at the Cross where grace and mercy meet me and call me beloved. When I was stuck in the trash of my sin, broken by following the cravings of the flesh, You lifted me up and out and healed me. The one who has been forgive much loves much. Let me be a man of mercy in every interaction. It won’t seem fair to those around me. It won’t make sense. That’s how mercy works and I want Your mercy to work through me!
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