“Lord,” he said, “have mercy.”
This was the plea of a father made on behalf of his demon-possessed son. It is a request we have all cried out at one time or another, in different languages and circumstances. In big and small ways, we are constantly asking for mercy from the Lord and from each other.
Give us more time!
Help us find her!
Please, just let me rest!
When Jesus healed the demon-possessed boy, His disciples gathered around to understand why they’d been unable to work the miracle themselves.
“Because of your little faith,” he told them. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed….Nothing will be impossible for you.”
—Matthew 17:20
The disciples were unable to give this man and his son the mercy they needed. Although there are certainly other times in Scripture when the disciples were able to perform miracles, this case is especially interesting because the man specifically asked for mercy, and the disciples were unable to give it. While the disciples couldn’t heal the boy or cast out the demon, Jesus could. In fact, earlier in this chapter, the mere radiance of His glory sent them falling to the ground in terror (v.6). Indeed, Jesus is set apart by His glory.
There is a great chasm of difference between God’s mercy and ours, between God’s faithfulness and our faithlessness, between God’s glory and our need. Jesus’s teaching forces me to look at the truth: Even when I actually want to be merciful and help others, in my own strength, my best efforts prove that my ability to be merciful is lacking.
Later, in chapter 18, Jesus shared the parable of a servant who owes his master a huge sum—a sum so large that he would need several lifetimes to pay it back. But then that servant turns around and finds somebody who owes him a day’s wages and starts choking him to give back his money (vv.23–28).
While we don’t literally put our hands around the throats of those who owe us something, we do choke others with our lack of mercy and forgiveness. The vastness of God’s never-ending mercy shows us our need for forgiveness is enormous. Grasping that need is the first step to understanding the gospel.
It’s difficult to remember mercy when someone hurts us. Some of us have been hurt so badly it feels like everything is ruined, that nothing can restore what’s been taken from us. The very thought of the offense can fill us with fear and loathing. But we do well to remember this: In order to forgive us, Christ had to die for us. He took the curse that we brought to Him and gave up everything so that He could give us mercy. This gospel is true! God’s great love and mercy for us are greater than all our sins.
I need to learn to take a “holy pause” before responding when triggered, especially with my husband who knows just the buttons to push. I am working on forgiving him for past hurts to be able to move forward and have a healthier marriage but it is hard. My flesh wants to keep that wall up. I am feeling convicted by this and am praying that God would remove my heart of stone.
@ Mercy
Thank you for your sharing of God’s helping you to forgive and heal.
Now I understand that is what He led me through for so many years.
Praising His Name and His faithfulness to forgive us and our many sins against Him and that we are charged with forgiving those who sinned against us so that we may receive His forgiveness.
It brings peace and contentment to rest His righteous right hand as His child whom He loves.
KRIS… thank you for your comments. I needed them.
Forgiveness is a multi-layer process yet possible with the hands of God. Forgiveness goes hand in hand with healing. Do not hold a grudge, meditate not on revenge, forgive the injuries -are all of these things against our human nature? Yes unfortunately. All of the above are from the born-again nature and by God’s might. Offences are the bait of Satan (John Bevere) and it is true. The extent of offences, to the point of hurt and anguish, needs God to help us to forgive. I remember a vision that God showed me. I will be transparent and vulnerable in my description. There was a season (two years or so) that I was betrayed and abandoned by the closest people that were supposed to protect and love on me. And I came to God so He could help me to forgive. And do you know what that looked like? Tears and tears and replaying the painful memories, and asking God why, more tears, more memories replaying, months after months, and God showed me this vision, He said you’re coming to me to be healed, and I am pulling out the arrows on your back that they shot at you “in the name of love”, and each time He pulled an arrow out, I bled profusely, just like fresh wound, and I screamed in pain and tears. That’s what forgiveness and a healing season looked like. It was incredibly messy and painful. But it took God.. and it took time! By God’s mercy, may we be healed, strengthened to run the course, may our heart be purified and sanctified from the bitterness, fear, anguish, resentment, defilement that the injuries of the wicked ones can cause. The Lord is able. He is more than able to redeem every bad thing done to us into beautiful things. Be blessed dear sisters.
Thank you for sharing!
“It’s difficult to remember mercy when someone hurts us. Some of us have been hurt so badly it feels like everything is ruined, that nothing can restore what’s been taken from us. The very thought of the offense can fill us with fear and loathing. But we do well to remember this: In order to forgive us, Christ had to die for us. He took the curse that we brought to Him and gave up everything so that He could give us mercy. This gospel is true! God’s great love and mercy for us are greater than all our sins.”
Boy, did this hit home today. I just saw a miraculous end to an 8-month struggle Monday evening. It was beginning to look like all was lost. But as Tina would say, But God……
I had the opportunity to talk to my former student last evening before his surgery today. We talked, shared some scripture and songs. His go to song is “Come, Jesus, Come.” He has a playlist for today. He is in surgery now and will be for awhile yet. He will be in critical care for awhile determined by his body’s response to the surgery. I will get a response as soon as he is able to respond. Thanks for your prayers!!
Thank you Lord for your mercy and grace. ❤️
Without His mercy and grace where would I be? Not a question I want to answer, I’m not who I was but have Jesus to thank for walking this journey of faith with to the end. How do I say thank you?
Sharing prayers for your concerns.
The portion about forgiveness makes me think about this verse ”It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
1 Corinthians 13:5 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/1co.13.5.NIV
Sometimes I can be easily offended by my husband. I want to get to the point where I don’t and where I don’t keep any record of wrongdoing.
God is so merciful to me. I need to be able to do that all the time!
Praying for all of you! Laura, I think that is a beautiful idea! When our daughter was away from the Lord, I asked how to pray. The Lord lead me to pray that the scales would drop from her eyes. She returned and lives for the Lord today.