Of Mercy and Grace

Often we heard people chanting the word mercy and grace. Sound almost similar right? How do we actually differentiate that we’ve been granted mercy or graced upon? Check up the dictionary. You may find various meanings that relates to the human life, but in the end, I bet most of you would be further confused.

Let me start with a story,

Long time ago, in the ancient days before America was even found. The natives live there, we call them the Red Indians. And there’s this one village. What makes it so special is that it has a chief with a strong sense of justice where people are living a secured and crime free life.

But one day, there was complain that the villager’s chickens were stolen. Hence, the chief gathered the entire village and he said, “Now, if you had stole the chickens, confess and you’re punishment shall be light. You shall endure 10 strokes of the whip.” No one came forth.

“Do repent and confess now! And now, you shall endure 20 strokes!” Yet no one came forth either. The villagers were then getting impatient; making loud noises, demanding that justice to be done quickly. “CONFESS!!! AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE 100 STROKES!!!” the chief shouted furiously. 100 strokes can leave anyone dead, even if were to survive, it’s a great suffering. No one confessed. And the day ended.

After some time, the thief was caught and brought to face the chief. It was his mother. Many now whispering to one another, “It’s his mother; he wouldn’t possibly punish her of 100 strokes”. Some others shouting that justice must be done accordingly.

The chief, not for even once, was in the state of confusion. He calmly ordered his mother to be tied to a stake, and have his strongest warriors to carry out the punishment with all their strength, as if the person tied there was the enemy.

As the strokes were to land on the mother.
The chief……… covered over his mother with his bare back…

Mercy means simply NOT GETTING WHAT WE DESERVE. As we read from the story, the mother had been saved by her merciful son. The chief’s act of kindness had saved her. Grace is just the exact opposite. Is getting what we don’t actually deserve.

Take an example of our student lives, we often pray for mercy and a soften heart of the lecturer, while waiting for our test results, for we know how badly we did in the test and that we want better than what we deserve. On the other way around, we proclaim “Thank you for the grace given to me” when we get a better than expected test results.

Likewise, in our Christian life, Jesus had mercy upon us all, for we are all sinners and He died on the cross to cleanse us of our sins. For our sins we are deserved to be punished, but Jesus took it all and shoulder it on the cross. And through him, we are graced upon for our God has promised that whoever believe in him and carry out His good works, the reward shall be waiting for us in heaven.

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Romans 3:23-24 (NIV)

P/S. the story earlier had been told to me by a dear pastor who has impacted my life in many ways. Thank you Ps. John Kwan of LifeImpact Ministries for sharing such a wonderful story. Do feel free to repost this entry in any of your blogs, e-mails or bulletins if it has really touched and moved your heart. God bless.