1 Kings 1:53 (NKJV)
“So King Solomon sent them to bring him down from the altar. And he came and fell down before King Solomon; and Solomon said to him, ‘Go to your house.’”

In the last devotion, we quoted James 2:13, which says in part, “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy…” Our assertion from that devotion was that God shows mercy to those who are merciful. Today’s devotion builds on that.

We are called to be people of mercy. We are appointed to be channels of mercy to a world that, by and large, does not deserve or display mercy. We are anointed as an army of mercy keepers; we are equipped with mercy as our weapons of warfare.

The world is merciless. The world neither understands nor gives mercy. Whenever they have the opportunity, they tread down the needy and crush the weak. The strong weaponize their strength to destroy those who cannot defend themselves.

But not so with us. We are custodians of mercy because we have been recipients of mercy. To the merciful, God shows Himself merciful, as Jesus said in Matthew 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”

One of the great attributes of God is His mercy, and this attribute must live in us. The world system will do everything in its power to harden, mold, and make us unforgiving and unmerciful, but we must fight back. To be like Christ requires this fight of faith.

When they brought the woman caught in adultery to Jesus, they expected judgment according to the prescribed Law of Moses. And Jesus could have followed the law. But he chose the higher road of mercy, in conformity with His Father’s nature.

We, too, need to choose this higher road. There is something really sweet about having the power to judge and choosing not to. It carries a heavenly aroma. As promised, we live as “joint-heirs” with Christ every time we offer mercy instead of judgment.

Now, to make a balance: this does not negate the need for discipline and correction, nor should it restrict enforcing the laws of the land. There is a place for corporate judgment. There is a place for discipline, especially for repeated offenders. This too is of God.

To today’s passage. When Solomon had an opportunity to crush Adonijah, he showed him mercy. He said to him, “Go to your house.” People may have called Solomon weak for not killing his main adversary for the throne. But Solomon chose the higher road.

There is a narrow way and a higher road. It is a road that displays God’s nature and character. You will be misunderstood for choosing to walk on that road, but heaven will celebrate you. So, as often as you can, extend God’s mercy to the world around you.

@ChineduOranye
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