Be Merciful

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.  Lamentations 3:22-23

Today's Scriptures explain that it is simply by virtue of God's mercies that we are not consumed.  So why do we not extend that same mercy to others and even to ourselves when we blow it?  It is because of pride.  Pride says that someone must pay for the transgression they committed against you or even self-pride (or self-righteousness) states that you must pay for the sin you committed, whether this attitude is conscious or subconscious.  The Bible is clear that "pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall" though (Proverbs 16:18).  We do not have to pay for our own sins when we blow it and others do not have to pay for their sins against us.  We cannot pay for our own sins!  Jesus bore all of our sins on the tree!  In fact He "his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed (1 Peter 2:24).  I don't believe that it is a coincidence that the Bible talks about Jesus bearing our sins and healing at the same time in the preceding verse of Scripture.  Many times, sickness is the byproduct of unforgiveness, especially against oneself.  We do not need to bear our sins but simply need to receive by faith what Jesus has already done on our behalf in terms of forgiving us!  As far as forgiving other people is concerned, there is a difference between forgiveness and trust.  While we are admonished by the Bible as Believers to forgive everyone that asks (Matthew 18:22), trust must be established and in many cases rebuilt once it is broken!  Let us remember that Jesus bore our sins and the sins of others on the cross so we don't have to feel guilty about wrong decisions, hold unforgiveness towards others, or condemn ourselves!