Psalm 103:8
"The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy."
Two of the greatest attributes of God are mercy and grace. If God were not merciful and gracious towards us, we would be in a heap of trouble. It is only God's mercy that keeps us from burning in Hell, and it is His grace that offered us salvation. Yet, the mercy and grace of God does not stop at salvation. When studying Psalm 103, you see that mercy and grace are constantly at work in our lives. Let me show you how they work and how you can use them in your personal life with others.
First, mercy and grace cause God to be "slow to anger." Imagine how angry God would be with us if His mercy and grace didn't cause him to be "slow to anger." You need to be sure that you let mercy and grace help you not to be quickly angered with others. If married couples are going to keep their marriage strong with a happy atmosphere, then they need to let mercy and grace cause them to be slow to anger. Don't be quick to jump on your spouse when they do wrong. Parents, don't be so quick to be angry with your children. Pastors, be slow to anger with Christians who are not growing as fast as you would like. Leaders, let mercy and grace curb your anger when your followers do wrong. Every individual, no matter what category of life they fall in, needs to practice mercy and grace when others do them wrong.
Second, mercy and grace causes the punishment to end. Verse 9 says, "He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever." Aren't you glad that God ends the penalty when we do wrong? Likewise, you need to be sure to end the penalty with others when they do wrong. It is not good to continually hold something over the head of someone when they have done wrong. The penalty has to end at some point. To continually punish someone because they did something five or ten years ago is simply not allowing mercy and grace to work. Let the punishment end! Stop holding a grudge against someone because of what they did in the past. Move on and let mercy and grace work in your life.
Third, mercy and grace doesn't deal with people according to their sins. Verse 10 shows us that God deals with us according to His grace and mercy and not according to our sins. Friend, apply mercy and grace to the individual who has done wrong. In other words, don't always mistrust someone just because they did wrong. Let your mental attitude towards people be one that you deal with them as if they had never done wrong.
Fourth, mercy and grace allow people to have a bad day. Verse 14 says, "For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust." This is so important to the health of any relationship. You must give people a chance to have a bad day. Don't be quick to judge and punish someone because they did one thing wrong. Let mercy and grace govern your emotions and help you not to be cross with others all the time. Realize they are human, and humans will have a bad day.
I am not condoning sin, neither am I saying that we should sweep sin under the carpet. I am saying that we need to be merciful and gracious to others so they have a chance to grow. It is the mercy and grace of God that gives us the opportunity to grow. You will never see others grow into a better person without letting mercy and grace work. As you go throughout your day, let mercy and grace govern how you deal with those who make a mistake.