Grace vs. Mercy

Grace and Mercy are very similar, but very different. In fact, some people even think that they mean the same thing!

Grace:

The Greek for Grace is karis. The word Grace means, according to dictionary.com, is
1. elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action.

2. a pleasing or attractive quality or endowment.

3. favor or good will.

4.  manifestation of favor, especially by a superior: It was only through the dean's grace that I wasn't expelled from school.

5. mercy; clemency; pardon: an act of grace.

 

But according to John Bevere's book "Extraordinary." Grace enables us to serve God in the manner that pleases Him. He says that Grace is getting what we don't deserve, and Mercy is not getting what we do deserve. Totally different things.

 

1 Corinthians 15: 10 says, "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them- yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me."

 

2 Corinthians 12: 9 says, "But he said to me, my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakens."

 

Paul always opened his letter with 'grace and peace to you.' Why? He knew that without grace and peace he couldn't abound to anything so he knew that they needed it too.

 

Mercy:

 

1. compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence: Have mercy on the poor sinner.

2. the disposition to be compassionate or forbearing: an adversary wholly without mercy.

3. the discretionary power of a judge to pardon someone or to mitigate punishment, especially to send to prison rather than invoke the death penalty.

4. an act of kindness, compassion, or favor: She has performed countless small mercies for her friends and neighbors.

5. something that gives evidence of divine favor; blessing: It was just a mercy we had our seat belts on when it happened.

 

Mercy is when we don't get what we deserved to get. To show favor on someone or something. That is why, in a lot of prayers, people cry out 'Mercy! Have mercy on me Lord!' Or in  movies the person who is just about to be executed cries out for mercy.

 

A good example from the bible is the story about the servant who owed his master a lot of money. Millions and millions of dollars! So for punishment the master was going to put him in jail until he could pay it all. The man didn't have anything near that so he went to his master and cried out to him. He said, 'Lord, I don't any money at all. My wife is at home all by herself with no means to make any money. And if she did she would have to use it for her own needs. Or Lord, can please just spare me?' The man heard his pleas and decided to let him off. He showed him mercy.

 

 

Grace and Mercy are very similar, but they mean two different things. It is important to understand both of these words. We need to have grace in our lives and we all need to exercise mercy towards others.

 

So today I want to challenge you, find an area in your life where you have been given grace. Make sure that you thank the Lord for his Mercy and Grace in your life. Also find an area where you need to exercise more Mercy. And then do it! By you giving mercy you also will be shown mercy.