Listen

However, God is rich in mercy. He brought us to life with Christ while we were dead as a result of those things that we did wrong. He did this because of the great love that he has for us. You are saved by God’s grace!

Ephesians 2:4-5

Think

Choosing to love over hate is an act of mercy.

On June 17, 2015, a young white man walked in and joined a weekly Bible study at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. As they held hands to pray, the visitor began shooting, killing nine people simply because of their dark skin tone. Two days after the massacre, the daughter of 70-year-old Ethel Lance told the 21-year-old man this: “You took something very precious from me, but I forgive you. It hurts me. You hurt a lot of people, but may God forgive you.”

Choosing to love over hate is an act of mercy.

Pray for the courage to examine your heart today. Is there someone you need to forgive? Are you in need of forgiveness? Do you see people who look or think differently from you as equally loved by God? In what way can you choose love over hate? God is rich in mercy. As Christ-followers, may we be generous in sharing God’s mercy with those around us.

Colleen Burroughs

Pray

Dear God, please give me the strength to forgive, especially when I have been deeply hurt. In Christ, amen.

Go

Stretch wide your arms to the world.

Exhale peace in the knowledge that the Creator of the universe is as close as your very next breath.