Mercy Breaks Down Walls

Mercy Breaks Down Walls

A devotional looking at walls. Walls can be barriers to shelter and protect us or they can be walls which imprison us. Mercy breaks down walls to set the captive free.  

THOUGHT: 

As we have been watching the news about Russia attacking Ukraine, we have also been reminded of another era.  A time, for some of us, that was not that long ago.  When trying to recall this era, I thought it was only a few years ago and yet, it was almost 33 years ago!  Of course, I am referring to the fall of the Berlin Wall.  A wall in its simplest physical form, but in its symbolic form, is a representation of hatred beyond belief. 

So, the most recent story on the news poignantly connected the Russian attack on Ukraine to the abominations of Germany.  A 95-year-old man, who had survived four concentration camps, was killed in a bombing in Ukraine.  He had miraculously escaped the walls of hate and survived to live his life.  Yet, in his new land of Ukraine, the walls were built up again.  Brick by brick of cruelty and imprisonment and as a result of ego and power.

It has been said that “Mercy is the dynamite that breaks down walls”. I suspect that is true.  During WWII, when the world finally started comprehending what was happening to the victims of Hitler’s Power, they did all they could to break down those walls.  The walls of the concentration camps.  The walls of the ghettos.  The walls of hidden annexes.  Most of all, walls that cause pain and sin against God’s Love.

Mercy is from God. Mercy is a sign of love beyond comprehension. Mercy, even though the act of it is deemed soft and gentle, is actually a formidable force.  A force strong enough to destroy all the walls of hate. 

Maybe, just maybe, this man survived the atrocities of WWII, to demonstrate how far we’ve come OR MAYBE..…how far we must go yet before we understand God’s Love and God’s Mercy.  Losing his life to the same kind of hatred he had once escaped, was indicative of how much we need God’s Mercy.

When we are in trouble or in danger, especially if we are sinning, we need God’s Mercy more than ever.  God’s Mercy often comes when we don’t expect it.  His Mercy is comforting and patient and soothing.  The strength of what that Mercy brings though is mighty and life changing.  There is almost a dual part to mercy.  It can bring someone into the arms of God while destroying the forces of sin. 

Truly, Mercy breaks down walls.  Jesus’ Mercy is welcomed, accepted, needed, and it does…..break down walls.

PRAYER:

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, hear us. Please bestow your Mercy upon us.  Forgive our transgressions. Hold us tight.  Whisper comfort in our ears.  As we strive to be better persons, please break down any walls we may have built ourselves – walls of fear or hate or confusion.  Please allow us to see the walls of hate for what they are and help us to be the ones who bring mercy to others, breaking down our insufficiencies brick by brick.  AMEN.

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