Love MercySample

Gift of Mercy

Every three minutes a baby is born with a cleft lip or palate somewhere in the world. In rich nations, cleft lips are easily repaired. But Richard was born in Benin, West Africa. Medical help was not available. Richard grew up in a world of isolation and ridicule. He said, “I felt ashamed. I stayed in my room a lot.” 

One day, when Richard was 17 years old, he heard that a hospital ship had arrived in Benin.  A two-hour surgery not only repaired his lip… it repaired his life.  Richard’s new life was a gift of mercy.

In today’s reading, we see that King Manasseh’s father Hezekiah was faithful to God (v3). Hezekiah led the nation in righteousness and away from idolatry. As Hezekiah’s son, Manasseh knew what was required of him, yet he fell far short of this standard. Manasseh not only worshipped idols himself, but he led his whole nation astray. He polluted the temple of God that his ancestor Solomon had built and sacrificed his own sons to false gods.

Manasseh ignored repeated warnings from God.  Yet, in the prison of exile, God accepted his repentance. Such mercy!

After God showed him mercy, Manasseh was a transformed man. He couldn’t turn the hearts of the people, but he did cleanse the land of what he had built. He returned home thankful for God’s gift of mercy!

Call to action - How has God shown you mercy? What have been the effects of God’s gift of mercy in your life?