To You, O Lord, belongs mercy; For You render to each one according to his work.
Psalms 62:12

Justice is when God renders to each one according to his works. So, justice would be when He blesses and prospers the good and curses and destroys those who do wrong, when He takes those who always and perfectly do the right thing to Heaven, and sends those who offend and disobey His perfect Law to Hell.

We might complain about this, but these decisions are only God’s to make. He is the only one who has the right to judge, the only one who can actually render to each one according to his works. He’s the creator, the only one who is perfect, so alone He is the judge.

Mercy, then, is when the one who has the power and the authority to give us what we deserve chooses not to do that. Mercy results in forgiveness, as in when the Judge withholds His hand of rightful judgement. Justice is God’s right; mercy is His choice.

When He chose to take the punishment for my sin, He exercised mercy. When He chose to accept His own offering of blood to take away my guilt, He stayed His own hand of judgement and declared me innocent and free. He chose to not apply justice and used mercy instead, for Jesus’ sake.

Lord, You alone are the Judge, and only You can extend mercy to me. Thank You for choosing mercy! Amen.

Pastor Dan Giles