MERCY IS RIGHT BECAUSE GOD IS MERCIFUL.
Bible Reading of the Day: Read Micah 7:16-18.
Verse of the Day: “The Lord has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
Kevin flopped onto the front seat of the minivan and closed the door behind him. He threw his glove on the floor.
“How was the game, or shouldn’t I ask?” Dad said. He had dropped Kevin off at the Little League game about two hours earlier.
“Terrible,” Kevin groaned. “We lost! Our team stinks!”
Dad groaned. “That’s too bad, Son. I’m sorry to hear that. And I’m sorry I couldn’t stay to see it.”
“You didn’t miss anything! The coach wouldn’t let me play that much.”
“What was the score?” Dad asked. He could see tears in Kevin’s eyes.
“Ten to zero!” Kevin growled. “The other team kept calling our team losers every time they scored a run.”
They drove in silence for a few minutes. Finally, Dad glanced over at Kevin, who was glaring out the window. “Makes you mad, doesn’t it?”
Kevin nodded and continued to stare out the window.
“Do you know why it makes you mad?”
Kevin flashed a puzzled glance at his dad. “Sure. We lost.”
“I know you’re disappointed, Kev. I think you’re upset because that team showed no mercy when they were winning. Right?”
Kevin’s face relaxed. “Yeah,” he said.
“So you think not showing mercy is wrong. And showing mercy is right.”
“Well, yeah,” Kevin said, as if anyone should understand that.
“Why?” Dad asked. Kevin’s answer was a blank look. “I’ll tell you why,” Dad continued. “God commanded us to be merciful because he values mercy. His commands show what kind of attitude and behavior he values. The Bible says he delights in showing mercy. Mercy is right because it reflects God’s nature and character. And refusing to show mercy is wrong because it’s not like God.”
Kevin nodded thoughtfully.
“That other team may have won, but they’re the losers when it comes to sportsmanship.” Dad put his arm around Kevin’s shoulder. “You up for some ice cream?”
“Yeah!” Kevin said, looking as if he felt better already.
TO DISCUSS: Why do you think God “delights in showing mercy”? How does a person’s actions reflect a delight in showing mercy?
TO PRAY: “God, you are a God of mercy. Help us to value mercy as you do, and help us to delight in showing mercy as you do.”
