These words from a popular Hymn by
Wesley brothers from the 18th century “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”
are on my mind “Peace on Earth, and mercy mild…” as the world events are
spinning out away from peace. In my
native country Ukraine the lines between opposition and the ruling clan are
drawn sharper, people are mentioning word “war” more frequently, with no signs
of possible solutions.
Around the world there are signs of
war. Just this week Lebanon suffered
internally with bombings on Hezbollah; South Sudan capital Juba is under curfew
after attempted military coup; Syria civil war is ongoing 2nd year;
in Congo UN troops are on offensive against Rwandan rebels; Ugandan troops are
hunting rebels in Central Africa; France is warring in Mali; Somalia, Colombia,
Indian Kashmir, Nigeria, and the list goes on….
There is hope that at least during the
Christmas season there will be efforts for peace. How are we doing in our peaceful homeland of
Canada? Are you at peace with family,
with neighbours, with co-workers? How
mild is your mercy? The archaic English
expression sounds as a good song rhyme, but it has a deep meaning. Just consider the following phrase: “God and
sinners reconciled!” This is what Gentle
Mercy does – brings a person into upright stance with God. It is the mercy that mellows out the severity
of human extremes.
You know the difference between Grace
& Mercy – Grace is getting what we don’t deserve (gifts!), and Mercy
is not getting what we do deserve (avoiding a penalty). It is to make this Gentle Mercy possible that
Jesus entered our world, to deflect our punishments on himself, to take on his
back the beating we deserve. Have you
acknowledged God’s Mercy in your life?
God has given Mercy first, and then asks
us to become ambassadors of Mercy, ministers of reconciliation. Paul writes “All this is
from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry
of reconciliation, that God was reconciling the world to himself in
Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the
message of reconciliation. (2nd Corinthians 5:18-19) Message paraphrase puts it this
way: “God gave us fresh start; as God settled relationships between us and Him,
He calls us to settle relationships with each other, offering forgiveness; and
he also asks us to tell and persuade men and women to drop their differences
and enter into God’s work. Become
friends with God, for He is already a friend with you!
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