Things turn bad?

We are learning the hard way that good people do things that turn bad for us. That is when the rule of mercy should kick in because mercy begets mercy (Matthew 5:7). We put people in charge with good intentions; however, when they do not meet with our needs or even perceptions, we are quick to judge them. Also, we are guilty of pre-judging. Once I voted against a President that initiated policies that turned out right. We are facing a similar situation now and should give our new President a chance for his policies to work. Let us be merciful and not judgmental. Let us not patch a new system with old patches (Mark 2:21).

The opposing argument is that these ideas are not new. It is true that they are not for us, or the older generation, but they are for recipients of a new generation. They too are entitled to be in the driver’s seat and learn to succeed or to fail. Without that experience, how shall they learn how to be merciful? My father went to school in Siberia for one winter and he was much wiser than I am with three post-graduate degrees. At one time, he managed one thousand people that were not of his race and they brought him home safely from the war zone. When I was in my teens, he did not appear so wise. I had to grow up before I could see the knowledge that my father had. I am still growing and I am going to be 79 in March and I challenge you to grow with me and pray for our new President to succeed for the country.

Suppose we were thrust into his shoes? Will all the things we do turn up roses? Will we make mistakes?  You can bet your life on it that we shall. Jesus gave us an example of what happens to people, that do not want to be merciful (Matthew 18:21-35). A servant was put in charge of a plantation. He mismanaged, not that he had intended, and was called to account for his mistakes. He pleaded for mercy and the owner forgave him a hefty debt. The same servant went to one of the servants under him and demanded to be paid back instantly. Mercilessly he put the man in jail. When the owner learned about the unmerciful behavior of his headman, he rescinded his mercy and incarcerated the scoundrel. It pays to be merciful when none among us is without sin (John 8:7).