M
ercy, like patience, takes practice. As a species we can be more inclined towards justice -- or revenge -- when applied towards others and reserve mercy for ourselves.
We all seek to be understood, but to understand others can be an uphill climb, difficult and arduous. Justice can be applied when mercy is also not forgotten. Self knowledge, the ability to look within and see what lurks there is not always easy. Yet when practiced it allows mercy to flower and true justice.
Revenge is not justice; in making oneself judge, jury and executioner, true justice is impossible. Jesus judges with justice only those who refuse mercy. To receive mercy there has to be a deep understanding of the nature of wrong doing. So mercy can only be understood by the one receiving it by having a sense of responsibly for wrong doing and harm done to others -- an often painful process.Mercy given to one who does not know they need mercy is helpful only for the one giving it; the one receiving may not benefit at all. Some look upon mercy as a weakness, when it fact it can be the greatest form of strength there is.
It takes courage to withstand the understandable desire for revenge, which in the end only adds to the chaos of the world and the continuing cycle of pain, suffering and yes destruction.
What do you see as the difference between revenge and justice? How is God's justice not like revenge, and what can we learn from the way God judges? When have you sought revenge, and how did it turn out?
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Comments (5)
Revenge can be inflicting any kind of pain for something we think was done to us, unfairly. It can be doing something physical to a person or his/her belongings, or, it can be something said, as in gossip. This is the hardest for me, not repeating something unfair that was done to me. It's an 'Ill get even mode of thinking. Justice is something done in accordance with the law. A legal issue. Making our own actions legal as in turned over to the law. God gives grace to us, and lets go of our mistakes, or, things we have done that we shouldn't have. I don't know about me seeking revenge, except in a divorce court 25 years ago, and that didn't work. He wound up with a very spend lawyer and got everything, and I've pondered it over the years, how it could have been done differently.
Jeremiah 15: 15...says it all !
@SheilaJoyce - Thanks for sharing the scripture my friend.
Peace
mark
I don't see how one can faithfully practice forgiveness if one's heart is incapable of mercy.