Mercy Over Judgement

I am reminded of my need to be merciful every time I look out my window and see my “not so nice” neighbor.

Let me set the scene:

Cup of coffee in hand.

Standing at my window.

Steam rolling up and distorting an evil sneer.

And a little voice out of nowhere shouts, “CHECK YOURSELF!”

My spirit cries…Oh Lord have mercy!

At that point I don’t know who needs more mercy…Lord give me mercy for my evil thoughts…Dear precious Spirit help me to give mercy to a difficult neighbor.

Yes…I am in need of both.

 

Read: James 2:1-13

 

Do Not Judge

Hmmm….seems to be a lot of judgments flying around these days. Is that not what we all thrive on.

Conversations are filled to the brim with judgment. Isn’t that what gossip is?

I find it difficult to hold conversations with certain people, because all they want to do is reign down judgment on others. I wonder what they are saying about me.

The zinger for me comes in verse 8, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” I get that neighbor here refers to more than just your literal neighbor, but my poor soul needed it in the literal sense.

I am to love my neighbor as I love myself! Oh Lord have mercy!! No wait…I am to have mercy?!

 

Mercy

James saves this all up until verse 13 and hits ya right between the eyes.

“…judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.”

Yikes! I know that when my glorious day before the Lord comes I hope to be judged mercifully.

And oh sweet Jesus, you know what you are doing because bitterness does sour the body, does it not? And judgment is just a form of bitterness.

Starting my day with bitter judgment is hurting not only me, but my family as well. I need cleansed with a spirit that shows mercy.

Mercy is the fresh air that stirs through a house filled with peace. So, I take a deep breath and a long sip of coffee and say something very kind about my neighbor.

And then I get on with my day and stop snooping! Oh triumphant mercy!!