Live in Mercy

People paint, inscribe, and cast images of symbols, pictures, words, and phrases.  Over the years, they have put them on buildings, in caves, made statues and monuments of them…in our generation, especially, people imprint these things on their bodies with tattoos—words to live by, pictures of loved ones, dates, symbols, etc.  We all have things that have deep meaning in our lives that we want to remember and want others to take notice of, but the Bible is very specific about what we are to remember, hold fast to, live by, and what we are to, with permanence, display for others to see. 

In Proverbs 3, verses 3 and 4, King Solomon says this:  “Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.”  Mercy and truth are to be engraved with permanence upon our hearts.  Mercy having to do with unmerited compassion and forgiveness, and truth having to do with what is honest and accurate.  Mercy, I believe, is especially difficult… 

Mercy means a boundary has been crossed and instead of attempting to punish that person or make them pay for trespassing a boundary, we forgive that infraction, that sin, that debt.  Does that mean the boundary does not need to be repaired, re-established, or re-enforced?  No…boundaries are Biblical, but forgiving others freely and with a whole-heart is a command…a command with a promise (Matthew 6:14).  As difficult as it may be to release another from a debt, we must.  Through Jesus and His incomprehensible sacrifice, we are released from our trespasses and debts.  How can we not do the same for others when our Savior so freely did this for us? 

Truth can be difficult as well.  Sometimes there is fear attached to truth:  If we are honest, there may be consequences of various kinds in certain situations.  Truth, however, is not an option.  It is the very essence of our Savior (John 14:6).  There is no lie in Him nor in any of His ways.  Lies (this includes half-truths and deception) are from Satan (John 8:44).  Jesus says that lies are Satan’s native language and that he is the father of them.  We cannot be any part of that. 

Today, when we consider what is to be etched and ingrained inside of our hearts, when we consider what is to be permanently engraved upon our soul, let’s consider Solomon’s words.  Let’s choose to live in mercy and truth just as our Savior does.