Mercy

Something to think about

No one likes to dwell on their mistakes. We want to move on, put the past behind us. But experience tells us that the big mistakes - the times we have hurt others - aren't so easy to move on from.

What an extraordinary message of hope there is in this passage from Micah. Forgiveness and mercy are serious matters. We can't simply move on without an effort to turn first to God in God's 'steadfast love'. This love goes further than we can imagine; it lasts into eternity. God wants a loving relationship with each and all of us. If we turn to God, then we can turn back to others around us and - encouraged by God's love and mercy - we can begin the work of healing and reparation.

Through our Saviour and Creator's love and mercy, our wrongdoing will be cast into the sea and new possibilities will open up for us to better serve God and one another.

Something to do

Reflect on something you have got wrong. This could be a personal mistake or it could be a system that you have been part of that you now understand has done harm. Ask God to forgive you.

Next time you are near a lake, pond, river or the sea, drop a small pebble or stone into it and take a moment to ask for God's mercy that your wrongdoing may be 'cast into the depths'.

Explore the resources that Christian Aid offered for Racial Justice Sunday this year and think about what repentance and reparations mean in the context of racial justice.

Racial Justice Sunday 2023 - Christian Aid

Something to pray

Choose a prayer card from the Church of Scotland - one of Christian Aid's supporting churches - to pray with today.

Together-We-Pray-Prayer-Cards.pdf (churchofscotland.org.uk)

Could you print these out and share them with your friends and neighbours?

This contribution was written by Dr Frances Clemson, Faith Communications and Just Scripture Specialist at Christian Aid.