MERCY TRIUMPHS

The quality of mercy is not strain'd,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
That, in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy.  

Taken from Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
Scene 1.  Venice.  A Court of Justice.

Mercy triumphs over judgment!  James 2:13.

I was watching a program on TV tonight called Dateline.  It's a program about crimes that have been committed and the people that did them and the people they did them to.  Tonight they were showing about a pair of men that terrorized people throughout the Oklahoma, Texas, Mississippi area in the 1970's.  While in Oklahoma they brutally shot a Pastor, his wife and 2 children.  The Pastor and his wife died almost instantly, but the son and daughter survived and were faced with many years of court cases, having to re-live the whole thing again and again over a decade or so.  The daughter seemed to move on with her life at a fairly normal pace, but the son just couldn't seem to get his feet under him.  After many years and two failed marriages the son went to visit one of the fellows in prison, and on the spot forgave him.  He tried to get in to see the other guy too, but he wasn't allowed.  After that he seemed to cope much better and eventually wrote a screenplay about the incident and plays his father in the movie.  The movie is called 'Heaven's Rain', the title taken from this scene from The Merchant of Venice.

I've been thinking a lot about some things going on around me, and being pretty harsh.  When I saw Dateline tonight (funny what the Lord can use to jerk the slack out of me - a crime show.  blushing), I had to take it to heart.  This son and daughter were called upon to forgive much more than I have ever had to.  Hopefully, more than I will ever have to.  And I got to thinking about this quote from The Merchant of Venice.  Should I approach God on grounds of justice or mercy?  Knowing me as well as I do, I think I'll be better off with the mercy.  In the words of the great Apostle and brother of our Lord Jesus, mercy triumphs over judgement.  I believe I have learned my lesson tonight.  I will render the deeds of mercy, for I have been forgiven a huge debt.

Does that mean I have to be every one's doormat?  I'm still working on that one.  Who knows when and where the Lord will choose to get it across to me.  I've learned to stay alert, and take my lessons where He chooses to send them from. 

Have a most blessed weekend.

Much love to you ...