For the ninth time, according to Bobby Dunn who is great with numbers, Friendship Church opened its doors for five summer nights of Worship Under the Son. These fine people really pulled out all the stops. They had little idea of how many would show up for dinner each evening yet always provided a plentiful spread. The decorations for the Vacation Bible School area were phenomenal. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen such extensive VBS decorating and I’ve seen some creative church transformations. This year at Cave Quest the children walked through caverns and caves, hanging bats and all.
Most adults gathered for their own teaching and worship while the teens and adults who liked more energy and noise met in the Family Life Center. The lively group enjoyed games, worship music led by the band from Greenville Convention Center’s Ignite Church and a different speaker at each gathering. As is often the case in Farmville and Greene County, youth from several different churches joined together for the programs. On Sunday evening we were introduced to a spectacular song which declared “You delight in showing mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
Those words are almost shocking if you really ponder them. Have you ever thought about that unique aspect of the divine nature? “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.” (Micah 7:18)
It is always in God’s power to treat us as our failings and sin warrant, yet he delights or is exceedingly pleased to refrain from giving us our just deserts. God has compassion on us and understands our shortcomings. Scripture clearly indicates that he does not want us to remain in our pride or self-gratification, or other sins but desires us to seek forgiveness and to turn around to do what is right.
Sadly, in our world today we might not witness a lot of mercy winning over judgment. We can help change that. Let us seek to emulate God. “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”(James 2: 12-13)
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