Mercy mighty

The Bible says: “And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not. For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.” 1 Samuel 24:17-19 (KJV)

Years after the death of President Calvin Coolidge, this story came to light. In the early days of his presidency, Coolidge awoke one morning in his hotel room to find a cat burglar going through his pockets. Coolidge spoke up, asking the burglar not to take his watch chain because it contained an engraved charm he wanted to keep. Coolidge then engaged the thief in quiet conversation and discovered he was a college student who had no money to pay his hotel bill or buy a ticket back to campus. Coolidge counted $32 out of his wallet -- which he had also persuaded the dazed young man to give back! -- declared it to be a loan, and advised the young man to leave the way he had come so as to avoid the Secret Service! (Yes, the loan was paid back.) 

Whenever one is wronged the world says we should cry for justice. However, when we are the guilty party the world would have us cry for mercy.

All too often we view the world spinning around us and thus we falsely believe we should have mercy and people should cower to us. Such haughty thinking leads to much aggravation and turmoil. Proverbs 16:18 (KJV) “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”

Let’s encourage one another to follow Paul’s admonition in Romans 12:16-18 (KJV) “Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” 

     Daily Chronological Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 21-24