God’s Amazing Mercy
Monday, September 28, 2009
This clip is from the 1998 movie Les Miserables, based on the Victor Hugo novel of the same name from 1862. It may be the best illustration of God’s mercy I’ve ever seen. The bishop offers unmerited acceptance and friendship to a paroled prisoner that he’s never met before. He shows kindness by first inviting Jean Valjean into his home to share a meal and giving him a bed for the night. But he shows an amazing kindness when Jean Valjean robs and attacks him. Rather than seeking justice or retribution, the bishop freely forgives Jean - and goes beyond forgiveness by giving him silver on top of what he had already stolen!
But that’s fiction, right? That doesn’t happen in real life, does it? I mean, I can’t imagine showing that kind of forgiveness, can you?
And, yet, it’s a beautiful illustration of God’s mercy, God’s forgiveness, God’s grace. It happens every day in the most real life that there is. The Bible says it like this:
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Epheisians 2.8-10, New Living Translation of the Bible)
God’s salvation is a gift, pure and simple. It’s not something we earn, by being good enough. It’s not something God gives us as a reward for acquiring points. God’s favor comes as a gift when we believe. Like Jean Valjean, we’re left amazed at God’s mercy when the chains fall off and the accusers are sent on their way.
May you and I revel in God’s mercy in our lives and imitate God’s forgiveness as we relate to others around us.
Peace,
Matt