Mercy As Central to Our Relationship With God

When we think about our relationship with God, it all boils down to the mercy of God, does it not? When the condemned thief stands before the court and the judge, all that is left is mercy...Judge, when you pronounce the sentence, would you be merciful? I am immediately reminded of the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee, or the Pharisee and the sinner [Luke 18:9–14]. The Pharisee stood up and he said, I am glad I am not like that other guy over there, that other character over there. I pay my tithes all the time. I have been working when I should. I do all the right things. I am glad I am not like that other fellow over there. And that poor fellow, toward whom the Pharisee is pointing, would not even lift up his head, but said, O God, be merciful to me, the sinner. And Jesus said, that is the man that went down to his house justified. That is the man that went down to his house with right standing with God. That is the man that went down to his house in a proper relationship with God. O God, be merciful to me, the sinner. May mercy be multiplied to you.¹

Dennis Prutow