LOVE MERCY. (Part 2 of Micah 6:8)
“LOVE” – the motivation behind all we are passionate about. When we love a person, they become a part of thoughts, and a part of our life, and a part of our heart. Love becomes the motivation behind our actions towards the one we love.
In Hebrew, “AHAVAT” means ‘the love of.’ Which makes so much sense as we usually never use the word ‘love’ without who or what we love bring mentioned immediately after it.
‘CHESED‘ is the Hebrew word that means kindness or love between people, specifically the love of God by His people, and the love or mercy of God towards humanity. It’s usually translated into English as ‘lovingkindness’. (Thanks to Wikipedia for this definition.)
This meaning of CHESED helps clarify the English definition of ‘mercy‘ – compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm. (Google dictionary)
In this case, the two words ‘love mercy‘ refers to how out of His love for each of us, He offers us mercy instead of judgment.
And in this verse, that means we are to do the same towards one another.
When we ‘LOVE MERCY,’ we are not on the constant look out for offence, but instead offer loving kindness (ESV) whenever we can.
Just as God does with us.
In the Message version, these two words are translated as:
‘Be compassionate and loyal in your love.’
When we love someone, we tend to look more at their best qualities than the ones they lack in.
Just as God does with us.
That doesn’t mean they aren’t there. It does mean that as we receive His love & mercy, we become changed for the better.
Imagine if we showed mercy to all we encounter, and not just toward those we love.
And again, I am so thankful that He helps us to love and show mercy towards one another when we invite Him to help us do so!
#lovemercy #sharingHope
KARLA LEES 