Mercy vs. Sacrifice. Is it a competition? How do we use these in serving God? What did Jesus have to say about this? In Matthew 9 Jesus said:
“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Perhaps we can look at it in the form of actions, our actions. Sacrifice may be something that we do without a heart action involved. We may say we sacrifice our time and give that to God when it is really just more convenient for us to go to church than it is to meet the need of our neighbor next door. Maybe it is we sacrificially give our gifts to God. We may sing, give financially, play an instrument, teach, or a myriad of other things and do so without effort and even by habit. The Pharisees of Jesus’ time were consumed with not breaking the laws that had been created, through time they forgot what God had said was the thing He desired. The prophet Hosea wrote these words:
For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
Hosea 6:6
Mercy requires a thought on our part. True mercy is not something that comes easily for some of us. We want to put our slant on the situation. True mercy requires us to have God’s heart so we don’t lash out at perceived injustice. Displaying mercy is removing our comfort and placing ourselves where God can use us, sometimes that will be very uncomfortable. Mercy is not letting someone off the hook so we look better, that is our pride showing. Mercy is showing Christ in every circumstance and situation. Reaching beyond our personal feelings or perceptions into the lives of those that need to know that God loves them, and you and I are His messengers. When we show mercy, sacrifice will occur and it may be that we don’t realize it until we look back.
Singing His Praises!
Mark