Love and Mercy go hand in hand. You can't have love without mercy, and you certainly cannot have mercy without God's love working in you. John 3:16 is the ultimate display of mercy - For God so LOVED us (the world) that He gave his only son, that whoever would believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (Mercy).
Every day I pray over my children, that they would walk in mercy and love mercy. Micah 6:8 Mercy is undeserved forgiveness, and Grace is undeserved favor. I pray that my children will walk in forgiveness and give it to everyone, even those who don't "deserve" it. After all, isn't that what God did for us through Christ? Ephesians 4:32
I pray these things over my children, but shouldn't I really be praying them and practicing them for myself? Aren't love and mercy the easiest way to show others the work of Christ in our lives. We don't need to scream it out, but instead, live it out. Sometimes living a life in Christ speaks a lot louder than our words ever could. Because of Christ going to the cross, we don't get what we deserve, instead, we get mercy; undeserved forgiveness. The greatest example of living out loud, more than speaking out loud was the work of the cross.
This is my prayer for all of us: Father God, let us be examples of your love and mercy everywhere we go. Help us to wear our mercy where others can see it and touch it, and most importantly, experience the profound mercy of Christ in us. Thank you, Father, that your mercies are new every morning. Let that mercy work in us so that we can have new mercy every morning toward everyone we come in contact with. Let us be a light and to shine your love and mercy as a beacon on a hill where people go to find refuge. Allow us, God, to serve you by loving everyone and walking in mercy. In Jesus Name, Amen!
