In overly simple terms, we experience God's mercy when he chooses NOT to give us what we deserve (in relation to our sin).  This stands in contrast to grace -- receiving that which we do not deserve and cannot earn.

Lamentations 3:22 declares that "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end"

And yet, Paul reminds us in Galatians 6:7, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow."

God DOES extend mercy to us -- and it appears that there is an endless supply.
And yet... despite (or is it, in addition to?) his extending of mercy, he also makes sure that we "reap what we sow".

Somehow, God's mercy in our lives does not eliminate or negate God's disciplining of us:

If you do not have that discipline in which all children share, then you are illegitimate and not his children.  Moreover, we had human parents to discipline us, and we respected them.  Should we not be even more willing to be subject to the Father of spirits and live?  For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, be he disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. (Hebrews 12:8-10)

There's a tension here.  God is a God of mercy, and yet... he is also a God of justice, and more importantly -- a God of love; for it is his love which compels him to discipline the children he loves.  And we are his children.

Maybe we can refer to God's mercy, then, as "responsible mercy."

Akin to problems associated with "cheap grace", many professing believers seem to take God's mercy for granted.  This weakened understanding of mercy becomes a sort of "license," used to excuse a selfish, self-serving lifestyle.

In a culture that is becoming increasingly disheartened by war and violence, and that continues to affirm the need for peace, many Christians seem disinterested in anything that smacks of correction, judgment, or punishment.  We love the idea of experiencing God's love, forgiveness, grace, and mercy -- but would rather not hear about reaping what we've sown, or of being disciplined by the Lord, etc.

But there's a glimmer of hope.  In today's postmodern world, reductionist either-or thinking is giving way to the valuing of both-and realities.  Maybe, in part, this will help believers to grab hold of God's mercy without turning a blind eye to his justice and discipline.

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I look forward to hearing your thoughts and insights concerning this.

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