Craig Clouston

 Know Mercy

May 8

And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Micah 6:8

The board was terminating his teaching contract. It didn’t matter that the charges against him were false and that lies had been perpetrated against him. The fact that he had been voted teacher of the year the past two years by this very board, and that he was loved by his students and peers alike, had been blatantly disregarded.

His integrity, character, and teaching performance caused anyone who knew him to doubt the allegations, and there was overwhelming support within the community.

Yet a course had been set; fear was a strong motivator.

ACLU attorneys had brought a lawsuit on behalf of the family who’d lodged the false complaint; so the board, acting in fear, proceeded with his termination. They had thrown him under the bus, no pun intended.

Everything within him cried, “But I didn’t do this!”

He’d been told years ago, “Expect no mercy, yet never cease to give it.”

He silently prayed. Lord, You have extended mercy to me when justice would have brought eternal punishment. Help me remember that my actions dictate who I am in You. Help me extend that same mercy to those who speak against me. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

†

In line with his character, this man was asking for the grace by which he and his family could walk so they might be an example of God’s mercy to a group of people who didn’t understand God’s meaning of justice or mercy.

We are not naturally humble. Humility is a character trait that must be cultivated. When we are wronged, our first human response is to get even; we want justice! And quite honestly, we may deserve it. Yet Christians know that our eternal existence is based on mercy. Were we to receive our just punishment—justice—we would be damned to hell for eternity. When Christ died, it was to teach us to love in spite of difficult situations. Do you want justice or mercy from God?

Prayer

“When I get wounded I tend to lash out, Lord. Teach me to love justice and be merciful and to walk humbly. Amen.”