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Sometimes a combination of ideas or events come together to effect us in a way that they would not have on their own. I recently received the picture at left from a co-worker. Her husband works as an appraiser and had snapped the photo while out performing his job. The image has continued to be present in my thinking over the last few days as I have been asking myself what it means to live at “the corner of Mercy and Grace”.
And then I received H.B London’s “Pastor’s Weekly Briefing” in which he asks,
What would it be like if every “shepherd” looked across his or her “field” and found the most needy one in the “flock” and then took the time to minister to that one. You talk about a wonderful Christmas present. By the way, who is the most needy one in your “flock”? If you had the opportunity, how could you personally enhance the life of that individual?
I’m still working on the question of what it means to live at the corner of mercy and grace, but I think the actions suggested by London are a beautiful expression of its reality.
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- Grace – Select Quotes
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Grace, we must learn, is opposed to earning, not to effort.
~ Dallas Willard
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The quality of mercy is not strained,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven.
~ William Shakespeare
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I have often thought that there is too much emphasis on confrontation and negotiation in the counsel typically given on ways to best resolve conflict. Frequently, I think it is best to simply overlook personal offenses. I received an email today noting that this approach is highly commended throughout Scripture, and share a few of the passages with you here:
“A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense” (Prov. 19:11; cf. 12:16; 15:18; 20:3).
“Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out” (Prov. 17:14; cf. 26:17).
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8; cf. Prov. 10:12; 17:9)
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Eph. 4:2).
“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Col. 3:13; cf. Eph. 4:32).
The above passages were taken from The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal ConflictThe Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict by Ken Sande, Updated Edition (Grand Rapids, Baker Books, 2003) p. 82.
