Day 25: Mercy

In today’s psalm, we read, “It is mercy I desire, not sacrifice.”(Hosea 6:6)

The Latin root of "mercy" is misericordia, derived from misereri ("to have pity on" or "compassion for") and cor ("heart"), essentially meaning "to have pity in the heart" or "to suffer with". 

When we show mercy, we suffer with the person on the receiving end of our compassion. We are not in a position of advantage; rather, we meet them where they are.

And, when we receive another’s mercy, they meet us where we are and accompany us on the broken road.

God tells us in this Psalm that our sacrifices, intended to please God, are not what he wants. Rather, it is our mercy for others.

So when you encounter those in need of mercy, if it is in your home, your local store, or seeing images from across this nation and world, suffer with them and allow God to lead you into action.