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If someone were to ask you, “Do you have a grasp of the gospel?” my guess is that you would probably reply in the affirmative.  You would probably be able to wax eloquent on the substitutionary atonement, or justification, or the death/burial/resurrection of Christ.  However, as we shall hear from James time and time again, does your life testify to that knowledge?

In James 2:8-13, James emphasizes that those who have been shown mercy are to bestow mercy on others.  That is a monumental task in and of itself.  Let’s take that a step further though.  It is one thing to bestow mercy on those that are “cute and cuddly.”  Those that are friendly and kind toward us more easily receive mercy from us when they are in need of help or forgiveness.  Those that annoy us or perhaps are different from us more easily receive our wrath or indifference.  However, that is not the fullness of the gospel. (Consider reading Luke 6:32-36)

God did not demonstrate partiality in showing mercy.  He did not seek out the “cute and cuddlies” of the world.  Because there are none!  Instead, He showed mercy toward us – His enemies – that were mired down in everything that would be repulsive to Him.  This week when someone difficult is in need of mercy from you, consider first the mercy that was shown to you, struggle through bestowing that mercy, and then thank the Lord for the mercy that He showed you despite your lack of anything cute and cuddly.