Mercy

What is the difference between grace and mercy? 

Grace is God giving us what we don't deserve. Mercy is God not giving us what we do deserve. The focus of grace is favor and blessing, while the focus of mercy is compassion and forgiveness. Grace is receiving eternal life through Jesus Christ, and mercy is being forgive instead of punished.
1. God is Mercy.
The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord ! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
Exodus 34:6
Mercy is not just something God does — it's part of His identity. His mercy flows from His nature — not our performance. God's love and mercy is freely given. There's nothing we can do to earn it.

2. Mercy meets us in our mess.
He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
Psalms 103:10
His mercy covers the punishment we deserve. We no longer have to offer sacrifices to atone for our sins because Jesus died for us on the cross and gave the ultimate sacrifice. All you have to do is repent to God, and He will forgive you. You don't have to get good to receive God's mercy. When you reach out to Him, God will meet you where you are.

3. Mercy is available daily.
The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.
Lamentations 3:22-23
God's mercy is not a one time event. It's fresh and ever-present. We sin every day, so we need God's mercy every day. What is something in your life that reminds you of how much you need daily mercy?

4. Jesus is the ultimate expression of mercy.
he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.
Titus 3:5
The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the perfect example of mercy. Like grace, mercy is freely given through Jesus Christ — you can't earn it. Have you fully received God's mercy, or are you still trying to "deserve" it?

5. Mercy empowers us to show mercy.
God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Matthew 5:7
Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
Luke 6:36
God has called us to be conduits of mercy, not just recipients. Sometimes we want to receive God's mercy more than we want to give mercy to those around us, but the Bible tells us that mercy should flow through us, not just to us. We should extend mercy to others, not judgement. 
There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.
James 2:13