A Reflection On God’s Nature

When I want to change my instinct to get even

Have you ever thought about our natural reaction when people offend us? Our first gut feeling in such cases is to respond in kind, to return ill will for ill will, to rise to the same level of spite with which we’ve been treated. Somehow, we must reverse that impulse. We must learn to think of mercy first. But how can we alter something that is so ingrained?

The key is to ask the question that’s really underneath the others: how can we be more like God? God told Moses that He is “the God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin” (Exodus 34:6-7). How can we be more like that?

We have two options: We can try to reform the sinful human nature, or we can ask God for His nature. The former approach has never in history proven successful. Our only remaining option is to ask God. He offers us His nature. We must ask and believe He will give it. He always does.

God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Matthew 5:7