The Key to Mercy?

I recently read the following quote by John Piper – “The key to mercy: be more amazed that you’re forgiven than that you’re wronged.”

Piper’s statement caused a flood of verses to fill my mind.  To name a few – blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him (Psalm 32:2); He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities (Psalm 103:10); while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8); God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions (Ephesians 2:4-5).

The hardest part about being merciful is withholding what I believe another person deserves – but that’s the essence of mercy, and that, in Christ is what I have received.

In my interactions with others, I don’t want to make the mistake of the unmerciful servant, who, having been forgiven an enormous debt by his master, refused to excuse a small debt owed to him by his servant (Matthew 18:21-35).

Focusing on the mind-blowing enormity of the forgiveness Christ has extended to me shifts my focus from the one who wronged me to the One I have wronged repeatedly.  His response to me has been abundant pardon.

That’s amazing.

-Abbey Le Roy

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