And so I discovered that it is not on our own forgiveness any more than on our own goodness that the world's healing hinges, but on His. When he tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself.

My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations." In other words, not only are we to pray, but our prayers are to be as wide in their outreach as the love and the mercy of God; the offer of the Gospel is for all.

Now, in some cosmic act of God or coincidence, the girl had returned to me. Who was I kidding? There is no coincidence. There is punishment, retribution. Or perhaps love and mercy and grace. Which was it?

The ground of mercy is love, and the working of mercy is our keeping in love.

We give our intent to love and meekness, by the working of mercy and grace we are made all fair and clean.

Truth is, we don't get grace. But it sure can get us.

Grace is love that cares and stoops and rescues." Grace is the opposite of karma. We get what we don't deserve: the love, mercy, forgiveness of God. Grace is unmerited favor. Grace is here for you right now, in the middle of what is hard or not working. The writer to the Hebrews described it this way: "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb. 4:16 ESV).

Compassion is not a passion; rather a noble disposition of the soul, made ready to receive love, mercy, and other charitable passions.

This is devotion to God - the fear of God, which is an attitude of reverence and awe, veneration, and honor toward Him, coupled with an apprehension deep within our souls of the love of God for us, demonstrated preeminently in Christ's atoning death. These two attitudes complement and reinforce each other, producing within our souls an intense desire for this One who is so awesome in His glory and majesty, yet so condescending in His love and mercy.

Lord, You made us and gave us breath. May we do justice, love and mercy, and walk honorably before you this day. By the precious name of Jesus, I ask for your help to do this. Amen.

It is important to forgive quickly. Thankfully, the quicker we forgive, the easier it is to do. God is love, and He forgives and forgets. In order to be like Him, we can develop the same habit. Prayer

We glory in our wonderful gospel of love and mercy for the unsaved, but we usually act as if we have no gospel for the saint who has been tripped up by the devil!