Daily Thought for Thursday, April 14th

April 14, 2011

Mercy Came Running

“Teach me to fell another’s woe.

To hide the fault I see:

That mercy I to others show,

That mercy show to me.”

–         Alexander Pope

Today’s Thought:

”The quality of mercy is not strained: It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath.  It is twice blessed – It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes.” – William Shakespeare (from the ‘Merchant of Venice’)

Today’s Question

Did you know that “Where Mercy, Love, and Pity dwell There God is dwelling too?” – William Blake (from ‘The Divine Image’)

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

 “ Mercy is better than justice.”

- Vauvenargues

There is an old hymn that states, “Mercy there was great, and grace was free; Pardon there was multiplies to me; There my burden soul found liberty at Calvary.” - Will­iam R. New­ell (from At Calcary)

As we approach the Easter season much thought is given to God’s mercy and the grace that were evidenced in the fulfillment of God’s plan for Salvation via the crucifixion of the spotless Lamb (Jesus) who took our place to pay the price for our sins.

But mercy is a two way street.  We do receive it in great quantities, with great frequency from God; but He also expects us to give it in equal measure.

“We hand folks over to God’s mercy, and show none ourselves.” – George Eliot (from ‘Adam Bede’) this is a shame but sadly it is way to often true.

When we were lost in sin and wondering through life aimlessly, God’s mercy came running after us to find us:

Once there was a holy place
Evidence of God's embrace
And I can almost see mercy's face
Pressed against the veil

Looking down with longing eyes
Mercy must have realized
That once His blood was sacrificed
Freedom would prevail

And as the sky grew dark
And the earth began to shake
With justice no longer in the way

Mercy came running
Like a prisoner set free
Past all my failures to the point of my need
When the sin that I carried
Was all I could see
And when I could not reach mercy
Mercy came running to me

- Dave Clark; Dan Dean; Don Koch (from ‘Mercy Came Running’)

We as Christians need to be God’s ambassadors of mercy to the lost and dying as well as to the hurting and needy.  Shakespeare wrote, “Sweet mercy is nobility’s true badge.” (from ‘Titus Andromicus’)  We are children of the King of Kings and Lord of Lord so we should wear mercy as an amulet around our necks and we should graciously be willing to give as much as we have had need to receive.

Today’s Verses:

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

Lamentations  3:22

The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

                        Proverbs 11:17

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

                        Matthew 5:7

Today’s Prayer:

Father, just as your mercy has ran to me and showered down on my life, may I run with mercy to others and give as much as I have received.