AN AMAZING FACT: A New York man was about to stop at a diner before going home for the evening when a teenager pulled a knife and asked for his wallet. As the boy was walking away, the man offered him his jacket. The teen was baffled by the kindness but accepted the man’s offer of a meal. After they ate together, the teenager returned the wallet and the man gave him $20. In return, the teen gave the man his knife.
Mercy, if it is accepted, changes everything. “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us” (Titus 3:4, 5).
Our “righteousness” doesn’t impress God; the Bible says, “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). It’s only through God’s mercy that we are saved. Only by His grace are we justified. Only by His grace does He give us eternal life.
Since God has shown us such overwhelming mercy, we should do the same for others. This all goes back to the Golden Rule. How do we carry it out in our lives?
The Bible tells us, “So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:12, 13).
Our “righteousness” doesn’t impress God; the Bible says, “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). It’s only through God’s mercy that we are saved. Only by His grace are we justified. Only by His grace does He give us eternal life.
Since God has shown us such overwhelming mercy, we should do the same for others. This all goes back to the Golden Rule. How do we carry it out in our lives?
The Bible tells us, “So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:12, 13).
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:4-7