Micah 6:18 He has shown thee, Oh man, what is good: and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and “to love mercy,” and to walk humbly with thy God. Micah 6:8
When it is possible to punish or damage someone, mercy is compassion and forgiveness for that person. Another Bible translation of the verse is, “Love kindness and loyalty.” We must take pleasure in this opportunity to “not” give someone what they are due and be grateful for it. Though we were still sinners, Christ died for us, so God did not punish us as we deserved. When we show mercy, we are acting in a way that is like Christ. He redeems, not condemns.
It’s not always simple to forgive. We’ve all heard the adage “forgive and forget.” You cannot simply forget the offense, barring a neurological disorder. This is one reason it’s challenging to forgive. I “do” remember what was said or done, and I still make an intentional decision to release the offender and let go of the anger and resentment that the offense caused.
Does this mean that I should allow myself to be actively abused and forgive? Absolutely not! This means that after I have removed myself from an abuser’s reach, I let God and/or the law deal with them. Our charge is to love mercy, kindness, and loyalty. When we show those attributes toward God, He will show us how to handle others.
Consider This Monthly Devotional 