I once heard it said, “Youth cry for justice while the old cry for mercy.” I can’t remember who said it or where I read it, but it has always stuck with me. The truth behind the statement is profound.
When I was young, before I knew Jesus, I was very fond of justice. I enjoyed books like The Count of Monte Cristo in which there were great injustices committed and then avenged without mercy. In short, I loved to see bad people get what they deserved. Revenge sells. Justice sells. People love it. It’s the stuff that Hollywood has capitalized on for years.
Something changed in me. When I surrendered my life to Christ, He began changing my way of thinking. As I studied the Bible I began to realize that the justice that I enjoyed seeing was the justice that I deserved and in wishing justice on others, I was in turn inviting justice upon myself. Jesus says in Matthew 7:2 –
“In the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.”
You may be thinking, “That’s judgement, not justice – isn’t there a difference?” Yes, there’s a difference, but what happens in a court of law after a judgement is made? The sentence. The justice. The judgement of others isn’t what we’re not supposed to do, after all, we can’t help constantly making judgements and assessments about people. What we can help though is the sentence that we administer to others. We have a choice. We can be harsh or we can be merciful.
Jesus taught that if we administer a harsh measure of justice, a harsh measure will be given back. Who wants that? He taught that if we are merciful, we will find mercy. Our sermon text this week is Matthew 5:7 –
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”
If I am merciful to others, who will I receive mercy from? That’s the good news. The answer is: God. We all have a choice, and for our sake, I hope we choose to be merciful. Back to the beginning – Why do youth cry for justice? It’s because they haven’t yet realized how deserving they are of punishment for their sin. Why do the old cry for mercy? The old understand they are guilty before a Holy God. They cry for mercy for others because they, in turn, desire mercy for themselves.
As we unpack this wonderful Beatitude, may the great words of 1 Peter 1:3 ring true in our hearts:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…
How can I, who have been given so much mercy, not be merciful to others? God bless you all!
Wes LeFlore (918) 607-8489 or huskerwes1@gmail.com
