Mature Judgment
The Value of Mercy – Part 2

Scripture Reading: 1 John 4:8-16

Key Verse: James 2:13

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

The title of yesterday’s and today’s devotionals is, “The Value of Mercy.”  There are two main reasons for its high value.  First, when we show mercy rather than harsh judgment, we are blessing people for whom Christ died.  In other words, we are showing love and kindness to people who are deeply loved by God.  How would you feel, for example, if you found out that someone showed great love and mercy to your children?  Wouldn’t you be so grateful and pleased with that mercy giver? Our Father in heaven is so grateful and pleased with us when we show mercy to the people around us.  They are God’s children as well!

The second reason mercy is so valuable is it opens the floodgates of God’s mercy back to us.  When we are mercy givers, mercy is flowing from God to us.  However, we must keep in mind that the Apostle James states clearly that the opposite is true as well: “judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful” (James 2:13).  Doesn’t this fact increase the value of mercy in your mind?  Don’t you want to make sure you are a mercy giver?  Doesn’t this fact make you determined to rid yourself of a critical spirit of other people—no matter how bad they behave?

When we understand the tremendous value of mercy giving in God’s economy, surely all of us will put forth our full effort to be generous mercy givers.  That’s maturity!

Father, forgive my critical spirit and remind me, often, to give love and mercy to those who offend me.  In Jesus’ name, amen.