Matthew 23:23 (NIV)
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
This morning, as I have done pretty much daily for the last 14 plus years, I slipped in and kissed my daughter’s cheek as she slept. As I did, I specifically prayed for her day to be filled with mercy, grace, peace and love. I know the world is filled with pain, sorrow and challenge, yet in those few words I asked God to keep bad things from her, to bless her with good things, to let her feel her Father’s love and to know the peace that only our God can bring.
I’ve never asked God to bring His justice on her (or on me for that matter), and it will be her own growing faith that will determine her adult relationship with God. But as her daddy, I can pray for her to know mercy – and to give it to others.
Who do we know that needs to be shown mercy? Whose faith are we helping to grow? Are we staying focused on the important things Jesus taught about here?
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