The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Colleen H. during the 2007-2008 League.
Biblical Research on "God's Mercy"
She is fifteen years old, and a brand-new owner of a driver's permit. For the first time, she will be driving with her mom. They get it in the car, and start their drive to the store. Her mom, being extremely nervous, warns this young girl of all the things to be carful of. "Watch out for children, dogs, or unidentified flying objects. Be careful!" But as the car is making its way down the driveway, it goes to the side a little bit and crushes some beautiful flowers. "I'm sorry, Mom!"
Mercy is defined as "compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence." Basically, mercy is showing someone compassion when they do not deserve it. They did something wrong, and you choose to forgive them.
What is the greatest act of mercy in the history of our world? It was when the creator of the universe sent His one and only Son to save us. This was when we were sinners - we chose to disobey the commands that He had given us. But, despite all the wrong that we did, Christ still came and saved us from all that. He gave us the opportunity to spend eternity with Him in heaven.
Romans 5:7-8 - "Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."
Jesus dying to save us from our sins was the greatest act of mercy that was ever shown. But now, we, as Christians, must also show that mercy to one another. We must take what God has given us, and share that with the rest of the world, in hopes that they too will come to know Christ.
Matthew 18:33 - "Shouldn't you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?"
God has given us the greatest gift ever given to mankind. We need to share that with the rest of the world. Jesus told us to always forgive. He told us to forgive others "seventy times seven" times. When we hold grudges against someone for something they have done, that is not only disobeying Christ's command to forgive, that is being selfish and not generously being merciful, just as Jesus was to us.
The car comes to an abrupt stop. The mom has two choices. She can choose to be upset and not ever let her daughter drive again, or she can remember the sacrifice God made for her. Jesus giving up His life was much greater of a sacrifice than just a few flowers. Thankfully, the mother chose to show God's mercy to her daughter.
