“DON’T CARRY HIM. HE IS DIRTY”

As I got to the office that afternoon after stepping out a bit, a young baby ran towards me. He had been playing with sand all along. As he came towards me in my fully cladded formal attire, the grandma said, “Don’t carry him. He is very dirty”.

I understood the grandma but the only response that came to my heart and jumped from my lips was, “Ma, it is not a problem. I was dirtier than this when God carried me”. My response shocked both of us. She replied with a deep sigh.

Anyone who has encountered the depth of God’s love would find it hard to point accusing fingers at someone going through tough times. It has become so clear to them that it is only of the mercy of the Lord that they are also standing.

When you know how powerful the love of God is, you will be gracious towards others. For instance, when you discover that the sister you proposed to has had an abortion before she gave her life to Christ, you would not be quick to call her a slut or begin to take pride in the fact that you are marrying as a virgin. You would rather be awed at that the privilege of divine trust- that God found you worthy to marry a woman who has found grace.

Someone said to me once that he can never marry a lady that is not a virgin because of what he went through to stay a virgin. I asked him about how many times lustful thoughts have found space in his heart. He could not count. Then I reminded him that those lustful thoughts were already sinful as adultery and fornication.

A lot of times we are like the elder brother of the lost son. We are so consumed in self-righteousness that we think others do not deserve the mercy of the Lord. Do you know the God we serve?

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Ephesians 2:4 KJV

He is rich in mercy. He is rich in mercy. Can you repeat that to yourself? He loved us with great love.

Every time you have the privilege to show love and mercy to a broken vessel, do not be like the elder brother lost in self-righteousness. Count it a privilege that God brought you in as a part of an ongoing conversation of His mercy and love.

Blessed are the Merciful for they shall obtain mercy. Be merciful. Be gracious. It is not by our abilities that we are preserved. It is only by the mercy of the Lord.

Be merciful.