Partners
In Hope

Justice And Mercy And Recovery

Thursday July 30, 2020


Depending on the situation we sometimes find ourselves caught up in the tension between our desire for justice or mercy.  For those who wrong us we swing towards the desire for justice.  When we see our own failures, we long for mercy. 





He [God] loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth.  (Psalm 33:5 NLT)

Justice and mercy are both aspects of God’s character.  For justice to be justice the guilty must be punished.  We are all sinners.  We’ve all broken God’s laws.  We all stand guilty. God cannot ignore our wrongdoing.  We have harmed ourselves, others, and our relationship with God.  We have trampled carelessly over precious things and that matters to God.  Our sin must be punished with its appropriate penalty – death.   On the cross, Jesus mercifully took that death on Himself and offered us life with Him forever in loving relationship.
When people sin, they earn what sin pays—death. But God gives his people a free gift—eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Romans 6:23 ERV)

Without a clear picture of our own sinfulness and its awful consequences we will never find it in our hearts to be merciful to others.  It is only in the deep gratitude for God’s forgiveness that we can hold our heads high and love others as we have been loved.

As those who live with God in recovery, we now look at our own life, take inventory to check if we are doing what is right, if we are showing mercy, and if we are walking humbly with God.  Where we are wrong, we promptly admit it and allow God to show mercy towards us and grant us His forgiveness.

The Lord has shown you what is good.  He has told you what he requires of you. You must act with justice.  You must love to show mercy and you must be humble as you live in the sight of your God.  (Micah 6:8 NIRV)



Prayer:  Loving God, No one knows about justice and mercy like You do.  Thank You for taking care of the just requirements for my sin by giving Jesus to pay in full all that I owe.  The love and mercy You have for me is amazing.  Please help me to show the same love and mercy I have received to other broken human beings.  Amen

©2020 Partners in Hope 
More information on this and other related topics @ http://www.partnersinhope.ca/life-with-god-in-recovery-resources/

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