--OBJECT LESSONS FOUND IN THE BIBLE~

----WHEN MERCY MEETS JUSTICE ~~

--"Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an
offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma."---
--[Ephesians 5:1,2] --

---Should he tell? Would he complain? The student at an elite Manhattan high school worried how to respond to abuse from a onetime friend. The classmate often called him ugly racial names--to his face. Another shared a photo of him around school, the caption called him a "monkey."

Trying to focus on his school work he vowed to ignore the humiliation. Yet he didn't seek punishment. He'd seen students expelled from school become embittered by such justice.

Then a teacher, "horrified" at what was happening, inspired the school to offer an innovative solution -- restorative justice. The main goal? To restore. Indeed, to repair harm done.

Put in dialogue, the student and his offended talked honestly and listened, his ex-friend eventually apologizing-- their friendship renewed.

What made this justice so healing? Mercy. It's a stunning Biblical gift.

Jesus provided that golden combination on the cross, suffering for our sins "once for all" (Hebrews 10:10)--thus satisfying a just God, while dispensing to us His loving mercy.
The sinful nation of Israel received a similar reprieve. Scheming to offer to God empty sacrifices--burnt offerings, year-old calves or "rivers of olive oil" --Micah told them: "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:6-8).

Do we offer mercy as eagerly as justice? It's a holy gift worth giving. ~~

--ODB/PR~

--"Say I Won't" // Mercy Me ~~<https://youtu.be/PLamtM9Qeds>
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