The Attributes of God | The Mercy of God

Last week, we explored the justice of God. Justice is an essential part of God’s character. He is holy, righteous, and perfectly fair. Sin matters to Him, and He will not ignore evil.

Yet, if justice were the only attribute of God, none of us would have any hope.

Today we turn our attention to the mercy of God.

Mercy is God’s compassion toward those who deserve judgment. It is the Lord’s willingness to withhold the punishment our sins deserve and instead offer forgiveness, restoration, and grace. In face of our sin, the Lord offers us His mercy, not His wrath or condemnation.

The psalmist declares:

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Psalm 103:8 ESV

Throughout Scripture, God’s mercy is on display. He showed mercy to Noah amid a corrupt generation. He showed mercy to Israel again, again, and again despite their constant rebellion. The Lord showed mercy to David after his grievous sins. God showed mercy to Jonah, to the people of Nineveh, and to countless others who turned to Him in repentance.

Perhaps the greatest demonstration of God’s mercy is found on the Cross at Calvary.

God did not overlook our sin. His justice demanded payment. In His mercy, the Lord provided payment through His son, Jesus Christ. Justice and mercy met at Calvary. Christ bore the penalty we deserved so that we could receive the mercy we could never earn.

The Apostle Paul reminds us:

⁴But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, ⁵even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— ⁶and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:4–7 ESV

God’s mercy is not scarce. He is rich in mercy. His mercy is not exhausted by our failures, our doubts, or our struggles. Praise the Lord!!! Every day we live is evidence of His patience and compassion.

This does not mean God winks at sin. Mercy is not the absence of justice. Rather, mercy is God’s loving response to sinners who cannot save themselves.

For those who are walking through grief, suffering, or seasons of spiritual dryness, God’s mercy offers tremendous comfort. He sees our weakness. He remembers that we are dust. He does not deal with us according to our sins but invites us to draw near to Him.

Because we have received mercy, we are called to show mercy to others. In a culture often quick to condemn, Christians should be known for compassion, forgiveness, patience, and gentleness. We reflect the heart of our Father when we extend mercy to those who have fallen short.

God’s justice assures us that Evil will not have the final word. God’s mercy assures us that sinners can find forgiveness and new life.

And that is good news for every one of us.

Reflection

How has God’s mercy been evident in your life, and how might He be calling you to extend that same mercy to someone else today?

Prayer

Father, thank You for Your abundant mercy. Thank You that through Christ You have forgiven my sins and welcomed me into Your family. Help me never take Your mercy for granted. Teach me to extend mercy to others as You have extended it to me. In Jesus’ name, amen.