For judgement is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgement. James 2:13
All across the land are judges who sit in courts ready to judge cases as to whether a person is guilty or not. Once a guilty judgement has been made, the judge must decide how much the punishment should be. It is within their power as to whether place a harsh or mild judgement upon a person. Going off of various details, some judges will give a very lenient punishment, while others will throw everything possible against the guilty with no sign of mercy.
As James talks against showing favoritism, he brings up that those who judge without mercy will not be shown any mercy. He says that mercy will always win over judgement.
Seeing a wrong in another person is easy, thus making it very easy to judge another person. Sometimes that judgement is meant to help the person see the truth and get that person to change, but often it is to cut the person down and get revenge. As one passes harsh judgement on another, many feel as if they are personally better than the one being judged.
Everyone wants others to have mercy upon them when they mess up, but very few want to show that same level of mercy to others. Just as it is common outside the church, it is also common inside the church. Many believers are quick to point out sin and cast a person out, but want their own personal sins overlooked.
The problem is that harsh judgement will lose in the end. Those who judge others harshly, without mercy, will not be shown that same mercy by others or by God.
God has had mercy upon the believer in forgiving sin that deserves death. In the same way, believers need to be willing to show mercy on others who have done wrong.
You will have times in which others will do wrong against you. At those times you must make a choice on how you will judge that person. Keep in mind the mercy God has already had on you in forgiving you of your many sins. In that same way be quick to show mercy to that other person and don’t judge so harshly. Show the same mercy God has given you. It will win in the end over a harsh judgement.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know the mercy of God in your own life; that God will guide you in showing mercy towards others; and that you will see the victory God can give when you show His love and mercy to others.
Photo by Tingey Injury Law Firm on Unsplash
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