...mercy

An elderly rabbi accepted a young, headstrong student. The new pupil constantly challenged his teacher's authority and theology, slandering his character and integrity in the larger community. One day after a particularly unfair attack, the student repented of his ungodly behavior and asked the rabbi's forgiveness.

The wise man quickly granted it, but assigned the student a task in response. He was to fill a bag with feathers, throw them into the wind, then retrieve them. The student returned the next day, frustrated and angry. He had been unable to catch even half of the feathers he had scattered. "So it is with your words," the rabbi replied.

It is impossible to unring a bell. 

Our words may linger far after our actions are forgotten. 

And our actions are remembered by those we hurt long after we have forgotten them.

In a fallen world filled with fallen people, "goodness" is essential.

"Goodness" translates the Greek word agathosune, which means "goodness in action." Scripture says that our Lord is a "good" Father. Consider Nehemiah 9:35: "Even in their own kingdom, and amid your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land that you set before them, they did not serve you or turn from their wicked works." Hundreds of times the Scriptures call God "good."

All through the Bible we find God initiating such goodness toward us:

"God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). He took the initiative to find us when we didn't want to be found.

This was his Son's mission in life: "The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10).

God took the initiative in seeking me. When two men knocked on my door in Houston and invited me to ride their bus to church in 1973, I wasn't thinking about church. Or God. Left to myself, I would likely have never taken the initiative to go to a church or seek out the gospel. 

God came for me, or I wouldn't be writing these words. If he had not come for you, you probably wouldn't be reading them.

Now God calls us to initiate goodness toward others:

"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone" (Matthew 18:15).

"If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift" (Matthew 5:23–24).

Think of the last sin God forgave in your life. Now think of the person whose sin you need to forgive, and choose to initiate goodness today.